Reduce packaging waste, but stop micro-management

The EPP Group wants to significantly reduce packaging waste in Europe but warns against over-regulation and micro-management.

"It is in all our interests to recycle more and produce less waste. However, we must focus on areas where we can really make a difference. Our first concern is food safety and health, where single-use packaging plays a key role in our everyday lives. While aiming for reuse, we must be aware of packaging's life cycle. One cannot generalise, single-use can still be the best environmental solution in certain circumstances," said Massimiliano Salini MEP, the EPP Group's negotiator on the new rules to reduce packaging waste in Europe, following today's vote in the European Parliament.

"It is absurd how far the Left and the Greens wanted to push these new rules. If they had succeeded, our citizens would think we had no better ideas to protect the planet than to ban the packaging of fresh fruit and vegetables. We must not interfere in every detail of Europeans' lives," Salini continued.

"We are glad that we have prevented this. We have improved this legislative proposal. A ban on packaging alone will not reduce waste. We need innovative, fully renewable and recycled packaging formats. These should not be banned," Salini concluded.