Environmental compliance… the latest developments

What are the latest developments concerning environmental legislation globally? We’ve picked out some highlights for you.

Update on revision of the Packaging Directive

The European Commission has initiated a new stakeholder consultation process to revise the Packaging Directive. In addition to reworking the packaging essential requirements (see article in last month’s newsletter), the Commission is seeking solutions to tackle the problem of over-packaging and to reduce the overall amount of packaging waste.

Eunomia, the consultancy which compiled the report on essential requirements, will now lead a one-year project to propose packaging waste reduction measures.

Landbell Group is involved in the corresponding stakeholder process and has already attended two workshops with more to come over the next twelve months. The Commission is expected to propose its draft for the revision of the Packaging Directive in the second half of 2021.

New roadmap for modernising EU’s batteries legislation

The European Commission has released a new roadmap for the planned revision of the Batteries Directive. The revision aims at improving the collection of waste batteries, efficiency in material recovery, and the Directive’s ability to adapt to technological developments like changes to the batteries’ chemistries.

In a nutshell, the Commission wants the legislation to better deliver on its overall goal, which is to minimise batteries’ harmful effects on the environment and human health.

Landbell Group company, European Recycling Platform (ERP) is actively involved in the ongoing stakeholder process. ERP welcomes the Commission’s plans to reflect the latest market and technological developments, to address the lack of definitions, and to align the revision with the latest amendments to general waste legislation.

It also welcomes the proposal to change the legal character of the provisions from a directive to a regulation to ensure the highest possible level of harmonisation across Member States.

ERP will contribute to the European Commission’s consultation on the roadmap which is open until 9^th July.