Rising Packaging Waste: EU Tightens Rules

The European Union is at a crossroads in its environmental policy, and packaging waste has become a crucial battleground. For too long, fragmented national regulations and inefficient recycling systems have hindered Europe’s efforts to create a truly circular economy.

Recognising these challenges, the EU has introduced a new Regulation (EU) 2025/40, which was adopted on 22 January 2025. This new Regulation introduces harmonised rules to ensure uniform compliance across all 27 Member States.

The adoption of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 is not just another policy update—it is a firm political commitment to tackling the mounting crisis of packaging waste. It reflects the EU’s resolve to lead the global transition toward sustainability, setting ambitious standards that will shape the future of production, trade, and environmental responsibility.

This new regulation marks a paradigm shift, reinforcing the Directive 94/62/EC with legally binding and harmonised measures across all 27 Member States. It strengthens the internal market by eliminating regulatory disparities, providing businesses with clear and uniform rules, and ensuring that sustainability is no longer an option but an obligation. As Europe asserts itself as a global leader in environmental governance, industries must now rise to the challenge of adapting to these rigorous new standards. The transition to a circular economy is no longer an abstract goal—it is now a legal and economic imperative.

The existing Directive 94/62/EC, which governs packaging and packaging waste, has not fully achieved its environmental and internal market objectives. Disparate national regulatory frameworks and varied implementation across Member States have hindered progress toward a circular economy.
….