At the hotel, you may have to give up mini shampoos. The European Union is currently working on a review of its packaging regulation (PPWR). If Europe is preparing a true “big bang” in the packaging sector by setting ambitious reuse and recyclability objectives, more anecdotal measures are also hidden in the background of future legislation. One of them is preparing a ban on offering miniature products to hotel guests.
Since the European Commission’s first proposal in November 2022, the draft regulation has been sailing between the European institutions, largely modified and reworked as political negotiations progress. However, it took a key step in the European Parliament at the end of October, when the Environment Committee adopted a compromise text, approved by the majority of MEPs who are members of the committee.
100 milliliters or 100 grams
According to this latest text, single-use packaging for cosmetic and hygiene products would be prohibited no later than January 1, 2027 in the hotel sector. More specifically, hotels would no longer be able to offer bottles of shampoo and shower gel, tubes of toothpaste, body lotions, shaving creams or even small soaps wrapped in sachets, if they are packaged in disposable containers of less than 100 milliliters. or less than 100 grams.
However, the MEPs of the Environment Committee decided to limit this ban only to plastic packaging, leaving the door open to paper or cardboard (without forgetting reusable packaging). Therefore, this may not be the final end of mini-hotel products yet.
Furthermore, in the same text there is an alternative proposal from MEPs from the EPP (right) and ECR (conservative right) groups who propose postponing the ban until January 1, 2030.
Are there still other amendments?
Especially because the institutional journey has not ended. The text approved by the Environment Committee will be examined by the European Parliament during the plenary session to be held in Strasbourg at the end of November. Should the green light be obtained from MEPs in Strasbourg, who could still largely modify the text with amendments, the agreement of the Council of the European Union, which represents the member states and shares legislative power with Parliament, will also be needed. . European.
But some Member States, particularly Italy, which is driving the development of a bioplastics sector, are dragging their feet. Time is running out: if it is not approved before the beginning of the year, the part will be postponed to the next legislature on the occasion of the European elections in May 2024.
Source: BFM TV
