18 Mar 2024 --- EU member states agreed to the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) last Friday, ending speculation that the preliminary agreement could be blocked or stalled by the European Commission (EC). Rumors surfaced late last week that the EC’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) was attempting to reopen negotiations. The attempts were reportedly a result of the PPWR’s new rules on importing recycled plastics, which often come from countries that lack the EU’s stringent environmental standards. An agreement was reached, however, allowing imports meeting these standards.
