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Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive

The Packaging Directive aims to minimise the creation of packaging waste material and promotes the energy recovery, re-use and recycling of packaging. It sets the 'Essential Requirements' of packaging and heavy metal limits. It has both single market and environmental goals.

Overview

The Packaging Directive (94/62/EC) aims to minimise the creation of packaging waste material and promotes the energy recovery, re-use and recycling of packaging.  It sets the 'Essential Requirements' of packaging (which should be considered in its design and manufacture) and heavy metal limits for packaging. 

The Directive covers all packaging placed on the market within the EU, and all packaging waste - whether disposed of at industrial or commercial sites, or from private homes. It has both single market and environmental goals. 

Responsibility for packaging is split between two government departments: 

  • BIS leads on EU Directive negotiations, single market issues, UK Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations. 
  • Defra leads on broader UK waste and packaging policy and the UK Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations.

Latest information            

  • February 2010 - Article 21 Committee Meeting held in Brussels on 15 February 2010.
  • July 2009 - Publication of Statutory Instrument (SI 2009/1504) to implement Commission Decision 2009/292/EC on heavy metals in crates and pallets
  • June 2009 - Government Packaging Strategy 'Making the Most of Packaging' published (see Defra packaging web page)

Consultations 

March 2010. Defra are consulting on changes to the existing producer responsibility regime. The deadline for this consultation is 27 May 2010. See http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/packaging-regs/index.htm 

Guidance 

UK guidance for business on the Regulations can be found on the Business Link website: www.businesslink.gov.uk  

Contact

BIS

Anne Turner
Eco-design & Product Regulation Unit
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)
Bay 1105, 1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET

Tel. + 44 (0)20 7215 0995
Fax. + 44 (0)020 7215 3013
Email: anne.s.turner@bis.gsi.gov.uk  

Defra

Ian Atkinson
Producer Responsibility Unit, Zone 6/F5
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Ergon House, Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AL

Tel. +44 (0)20 7238 4345
Fax. +44 (0)20 7238 4857
Email: ian.atkinson@defra.gsi.gov.uk