Environment and sustainability – September 2026
Rules and regulations – Global and EU
UNEP has released an Aid to Negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty.
EU: Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2102 simplifying the EUDR scope has been published and the supply chain infographic has been updated. The SUP guidelines have been updated to add illustrative examples of the tethered caps requirement. FINAT and AFERA have published a position paper (172 kB) outlining why release liners should not be considered packaging under the PPWR. EuPF is asking the EC to correct a new example in the PPWR FAQs that considers stretch film still on the roll to be packaging. The EC has adopted revised sustainability reporting standards and a voluntary reporting standard for SMEs. The EC has opened a consultation on a list of non-OECD countries authorised to import certain non-hazardous waste from the EU. The EC has opened infringement procedures against 12 Member States for failing to meet the waste recycling targets. JRC has published a report (2.16 MB) on the economic viability of chemical recycling.
Rules and regulations in the different EU countries
Estonia: The government (in Estonian) has opened a consultation on a draft bill (in Estonian) that transposes the PPWR. France: The government (in French) is proposing a voluntary, regionally based DRS for plastic bottles. Germany: ZSVR reports that the German Federal Administrative Court has affirmed (in German) that reusable shopping bags are subject to system participation. ZSVR has also published the 2026 edition of the minimum standard for determining the recyclability of packaging. The reusable packaging rate for drinks rose by 0.2% to 34.5% in 2024, a study (in German, 5.56 MB) by UBA shows. The legal target is 70%. UBA has also published an overview (in German, 7.86 MB) of the practice of sorting and recovery of packaging. GVM has published a study (in German, 2.29 MB) on the effects of municipal packaging taxes. NL all info is in Dutch unless stated otherwise: The government is proposing new measures to make the DRS simpler and more user-friendly. They include a take-back obligation for all points of sale (including online), and an extension of the DRS to cover all plastic bottles up to and including 3 litres, including dairy and juice bottles. The plans were discussed on 8 September during the continuation of the Commission Debate Circular Economy of 1 July. The monitoring report 2025 (506 kB) by Verpact shows a recycling and reuse rate of 88%, the same as in 2024. The collection rate for plastic beverage bottles increased from 77% in 2024 to 78% in 2025. The Fair Resource Foundation is one of the initiators of a manifesto (1.66 MB) calling for measures that encourage reusable packaging. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that 6 kilograms less waste per inhabitant was collected in 2025.
Rules and regulations outside the EU
Turkey: ÇEVKO (in Turkish) reports on the DRS. This packaging must portray a DRS symbol. UK: Statistics published by Defra show a 9% decrease in SUP bag sales for 2025/26. Wales: The government has appointed Exchange for Change to manage the DRS. US: The U.S. Plastics Pact has removed EPS transport packaging from the Problematic & Unnecessary Materials List. California: SB 343 prohibits the use of the “chasing arrows symbol” or any other symbol indicating recyclability, unless at least 60% of the population can recycle the packaging locally. According to the June 2026 update (142 kB), (drinking) cartons reach this requirement with 62%. Keller and Heckman reports that a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of SB 343. Oregon: Senator Jeff Merkley has announced the introduction of the Truth in Labeling Act of 2026 (110 kB). The bill would establish a voluntary label for recycling, composting or reuse.
NVC members receive this information with all the relevant links in the monthly NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411