Environment and sustainability – October 2025
Rules and regulations in the EU
The EC is proposing measures to ensure the timely implementation of the EUDR. These include simplified reporting and transitional periods. For micro- and small enterprises, the EUDR will be postponed until 30 December 2026. For large and medium companies, the date remains 30 December 2025, but they will benefit from a grace period of six months for enforcement. The EP has rejected the mandate that was adopted by the Legal Affairs Committee on 13 October on simplifying sustainability reporting (CSRD) and due diligence (CSDDD). ECHA has launched a call for evidence to identify substances of concern in packaging for a EC report under the PPWR. The Council has adopted the regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets to the environment and the EP has published a briefing (229 kB). The EC reports that the revised Waste Framework Directive (EU) 2025/1892 has entered into force after publication.
Rules and regulations in the different countries
Belgium: Fost Plus has published the EPR rates for 2026. Denmark: The government (in Danish) has announced measures to reduce the EPR costs for businesses. Finland: Draft legislation amending the Waste Act and on shipments of waste has been sent to the EC. Germany: A report (in German, 3.04 MB) published by Logistikbude finds that almost half of companies overestimate their own level of implementation of the PPWR. Italy: PwC reports that the government (in Italian) has decided to further postpone the Plastic Tax to 1 January 2027. NL all info is in Dutch unless stated otherwise: VNG, Verpact foundation and NVRD have signed the Cooperation Agreement on Packaging 2025-2030 (1.66 MB). The government has published an update of the National Circular Economy Programme 2023-2030 (6.95 MB). KIDV (in English) has published the 2026 version of the Recycle checks. On 2 October, a number of motions were adopted that were submitted during the two-minute debate on the circular economy, including a motion on plastic. Beforehand, MPs received a letter on circular plastic. A CE Delft study (645 kB) commissioned by NRK investigates the climate impact of circular plastics. Research (5.04 MB) by WUR commissioned by NVRD and Verpact shows that only 36% of the plastic packaging is properly recyclable. UK: PackUK has published material guidance notes and supplementary guidance for the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM). PackUK has also published the RAM 2025-2030 roadmap. Colgate, Haleon and WRAP have collaborated to make toothpaste tubes recyclable. WRAP reports that the UK Plastics Pact will be succeeded by the UK Packaging Pact in 2026. Scotland: The government has launched a consultation on the draft circular economy strategy.
Research and reports
A recent report (27.9 MB) published by the EC sounds the alarm on ocean health. Plastic pollution now affects all ocean basins. Aalto University reports on a study from the ValueBioMat project finding that the environmental impact of bio-based plastics may exceed fossil-based alternatives. TNO has taken the next step in scaling up the process of recycling plastics with dissolution: an innovative recycling technology that dissolves plastics, purifies them, and recovers polymers. Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a catalyst that selectively breaks down polyolefin plastics, drastically reducing the laborious chore of pre-sorting mixed plastic waste. Georgia Tech researchers have developed a method to break down PET using mechanical forces.
MSU researchers have studied the impact of emerging packaging regulations on international trade and product safety with emphasis on plastic reuse and recycling in Europe and North America. CGF has published a report (4.6 MB) on EPR for low- and middle-income countries.
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