Re.duce | Re.cycle | Re.new
24 July 2023What METRO expects from the EU to achieve the transition towards circular economy
As part of the European Green Deal and the new circular economy action plan, the EU Commission put forward a revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD – Directive 94/62/EC) in November 2022. The initiative's objective is to ensure that all packaging is reusable or recyclable in an economically feasible way by 2030. METRO is committed to making its packaging more sustainable and supports robust legislation that is fit for this purpose. In our position paper on PPWR we have compiled the impact of the proposal on METRO as a major food wholesaler in Europe.
METRO welcomes the EU Commission’s effort to move away from unnecessary packaging and to reduce packaging waste. METRO is committed to making its packaging more sustainable and supports robust legislation that is fit for this purpose. A new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation could become the right instrument to guide businesses in their sustainability endeavours. The EU legislator’s goal must be to find harmonised and standardised solutions that would indeed contribute to circularity.
The presented proposal is an ambitious and extensive piece of legislation. It will affect a great number of businesses operating in or placing products on the European market. Present in 16 EU countries, METRO is directly impacted and will have to adjust its packaging policies. In this position paper, we cover the following most crucial points to ensure that the legislation is functional and efficient:
- Careful impact assessment of reuse targets
- Clear methodology and guidelines
- Harmonisation and interoperability
- Coherence and timeliness
For METRO as an international wholesaler, packaging plays a pivotal role in securing the quality, freshness, and safety of its goods. Packaging is key in contributing to a sustainable future for its customers. Therefore, in developing the packaging of its own brands, METRO aims to enhance the efficiency of its operations while reducing the environmental impact.
Read METRO’s position in detail in our paper.
