European Commission's consultation on harmonised waste
The joint research centre (JRC), of the European Commission, launched a targeted consultation on harmonised waste sorting labels for packaging and waste receptables. The JRC have been tasked with developing a technical proposal for harmonised European Union (EU) waste sorting labels, which is a key measure of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The consultation opened earlier this week, aiming to build upon feedback gathered during the first consultation held in September 2024, focusing on the ‘visual design of labels’ and ‘application rules and labelling system features’.
The consultation closes 16th June 2025. You should give your feedback directly via the EU Survey.
What are harmonised sorting labels?
A harmonised sorting label for packaging and waste receptacles like bins will facilitate consumers to dispose of packaging waste in the correct ways through the right collection points.
The PPWR outlines requirements for EU harmonised waste sorting labels in Article 12 for packaging and Article 13 for waste receptacles, considering key specifications, such as:
- packaging material composition,
- alignment between label on packaging and waste receptacles,
- clear, simple language that is easy to understand for the consumer.
The staggered implementation of PPWR means Article 12 (packaging label) is expected by 12th August 2028 or 24 months from the date of entry into force (whichever is latest) and for Article 13 (waste receptable label) is expected by 12 August 2028 or 30 months from the date of entry into force (whichever is latest).
Why is this important for the UK?
The UK Government took the decision in 2024 to remove the packaging labelling provisions from the main packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) Statutory Instrument. Despite this, the Government acknowledge they still intend to introduce a mandatory packaging labelling obligation in the pEPR regime in future, with plans to review the PPWR to explore consistency in approaches between the EU and the UK. It is therefore likely the UK will show some alignment to the labelling system agreed in the EU.