Finnish Companies Facing Potential Billions in Losses as European Parliament Debates Contentious Regulation

The European Parliament is set to vote on the packaging waste regulation, which aims to reduce waste and overpackaging while promoting reuse. The Commission predicts that the proposal will result in economic savings of over 47 billion euros in the EU. However, with over 500 amendment proposals on the table, MEPs anticipate a difficult and complicated vote.

The Finnish government has expressed concern that reducing packaging could lead to an increase in food waste or compromise food safety. The law will be finalized through negotiations between the Commission, Parliament, and member states. In October, the environment committee of the European Parliament voted in favor of at least 20% of non-alcoholic beverages being offered in reusable packaging by 2030.

Despite this support, the food and brewing industries in Finland have raised concerns about increased costs and negative environmental impacts resulting from reuse goals. MEPs have criticized the Commission’s proposal for not adequately considering life cycle thinking and leading to unsustainable practices.

However, a majority of members of the European Parliament’s environment committee supported the proposal to offer at least 20% of non-alcoholic beverages in reusable packaging by 2030 as a way to reduce packaging waste. While there are concerns about potential costs and environmental impact on the food and brewing industries, MEPs have also called out the Commission’s inadequate impact assessments.