The European Commission has launched a public consultation to assess where bio-based plastics should fit within the European Union’s packaging policy, opening the door to possible new rules for the sector.
Stakeholders have until 13 January 2027 to submit their responses.
The consultation spans the entire packaging value chain and will inform two key policy processes: the Article 8 review of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and the Strategic Framework on a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy.
Under Article 8, the Commission is required to examine technological developments and the environmental performance of bio-based plastic packaging, and to determine whether further action at the EU level is warranted.
The PPWR sets out what the Commission describes as a “harmonised EU framework” for packaging and packaging waste. The regulation aims to cut packaging waste, make packaging easier to recycle and promote greater circular use of resources.
As part of the review, the Commission is weighing whether demand-side measures or targets could encourage wider use of bio-based feedstock in plastic packaging. It will also consider whether any such approach should come with sustainability requirements for the feedstock itself.
The Commission is seeking evidence on the availability and performance of bio-based feedstocks. It has also asked for input on their environmental impact, how sustainably they are sourced and produced, and the likely effects of different regulatory options.
The consultation is open to a broad range of participants, including citizens, consumer groups, environmental NGOs and public authorities. Industry players such as packaging manufacturers and converters, raw-material suppliers, bio-based plastics producers, recyclers, food-contact packaging businesses, brand owners and retailers are also invited to respond, along with research organisations.
The feedback gathered could be used to draft legislation setting up a framework for bio-based feedstock in plastic packaging.
Packaging is one of the sectors the Commission has identified for developing lead markets within the bioeconomy, making the outcome of the consultation significant for companies across the supply chain.