EU reveals vision for packaging waste labels
Harmonised labelling scheme aims to boost packaging recycling, address diverse waste systems and consumer behaviour, and account for national and local differences across member states.
Following the agreement of packaging and packaging waste regulations (PPWR) in June 2024, the European Union (EU) Policy Lab has released new insights into what a labelling system for packaging could look like.
The Setting the Scene report reveals that the EU generated 84.3 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2021, of which an average of 64 per cent was recycled. A wide range of participation was found, from 23 per cent in Bulgaria to 88 per cent in Sweden, highlighting a need for the EU’s harmonised labelling system.
In absence of this system, national label schemes that reflect local needs have emerged, furthering the gap in recycling rates between Member States.
Key conclusions
The EU Policy Lab’s research, conducted in partnership with the Joint Research Centre, looked at packaging waste statistics, existing labelling schemes, consumer attitudes, and a survey of professional waste stakeholders to outline the considerations of a harmonised labelling scheme.
The report emphasises the importance of a scheme that will accommodate a range of differences, including diverse waste collection schemes, different user profiles and motivations for recycling, as well as challenges posed by national waste-sorting requirements.
One concern raised is the current diversity of waste management systems will make it difficult to introduce a harmonious labelling system. In particular, label characteristics such as symbols, colours, texts, and digital solutions will be influenced by the features of already existing labelling schemes.
However, the report also looks for potential solutions to make a scheme accessible for all Member States. For instance, a harmonised labelling system that assigned a distinct label to each material was found to be more suitable than one that assigned a label to each receptacle.
Whilst questions about the use of colours, digital solutions, accompanying information campaigns, and ongoing evaluations of label performance remain, the insights from the report will go towards the creation of harmonised waste-sorting labels with the hope of increasing recycling rates for packaging across the EU.
