The proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has reached its final stage. In late 2023, the European Parliament and the EU Council expressed their two confronting positions.
In Brussels, discussions take place to find a compromise between the different proposals. In the meantime, Pro Food (an association representing the main European producers of fresh food packaging) organized a round table at Fruit Logistica. It was named, The European Packaging Regulation: benefit or damage for the fruit and vegetable supply chain? During the round table, some representatives of the sector shared their experiences and evaluations on the PPWR.
Massimiliano del Core, president of Ortofrutta Italia had a rather critical stance towards the elimination of fruit and vegetable packaging. He stressed the importance of plastic packaging in defending the value of products and prolonging shelf life, which is especially relevant for the export of fruit and vegetables.
Luigi Scordamaglia, CEO of Filiera Italia and president of Eat Europe, has a similar opinion. He highlights that his proposed regulation would lead to the destruction of 32,000 jobs in Italy alone. He said: "On the one hand, the EU invests funds in promoting the consumption of healthy foods of which fruit and vegetables are central, and on the other hand, by eliminating packaging, it prevents the very promotion of these products while also increasing food waste."
Luc Vanoirbeek ( chairman of the F&V working group of COPA-COGECA) is equally opposed to the ideological attitude of the European Commission. According to him, the laws must be fair, realistic, and affordable. He finds that PPWR does not meet any of these requirements.
Martin Engelmann, general manager of IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen, points out that from a legal point of view, the ban on the use of plastic packaging probably violates the principle of equal treatment enshrined in EU law.
Philippe Binard, Freshfel Europe's delegate general, argues that the critique on the fruit and vegetable sector is disproportionate to its impact on the volumes of packaging placed on the market: "In fact, packaging for fresh produce accounts for only 1.5 percent of all food packaging currently used in the EU. Moreover, about 50 percent of fruits and vegetables are already sold in bulk, showing that the market has already optimized as much as it could be."
Discussions on the potential risks to the sustainability of the fruit and vegetable supply chain brought about by regulatory proposals are not unique to the European Union. Daniel Duguay, sustainability specialist at CPMA (Canadian Produce Marketing Association), brought testimony of this, explaining how in Canada they are experiencing a similar situation to that in Europe because of the federal Ministry of Environment's proposal.
For more information:
Pro Food
www.profooditalia.it/news