Sustainable packaging: Council signs off on new rules mandating increased use of recycled materials in the EU

20 Dec 2024 15:36 CET

OSLO, Norway – December 20, 2024 – Agilyx ASA (OSE: AGLX; OTCQX: AGXXF)
(“Agilyx” company”) shares the Council of the EU press release on Sustainable
packaging new rules for less waste and more re-use in the EU.

• Council of the EU
• Press release
• 16 December 2024 10:00

Sustainable packaging: Council signs off on new rules mandating increased use of
recycled materials in the EU

Today, the Council formally adopted a regulation on packaging and packaging
waste.

The new rules will significantly reduce the generation of packaging waste by
setting binding re-use targets, restricting certain types of single-use
packaging and requiring economic operators to minimise the packaging used. The
regulation covers the full life cycle of packaging.

Safe, sustainable and recyclable packaging

The new rules comprise, among others, the following requirements for packaging:

• 2030 and 2040 targets for a minimum percentage of recycled content (up to 65%
for single use plastic
bottles by 2040)
• minimising the weight and volume of packaging and avoiding unnecessary
packaging
• minimising substances of concern, including restricting placing on the market
food contact packaging
containing per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) if they
exceed certain thresholds

Labeling, marking and information requirements (e.g. on material composition or
recycled content) should facilitate consumer sorting and consumer choices.

Single-use plastic packaging

The new rules introduce restrictions on single-use plastic packaging for:

• pre-packed fruit and vegetables of less than 1.5 kg
• food and beverages filled and consumed within hotels, bars and restaurants
• individual portions of condiments, sauces, milk creamer and sugar in hotels,
bars and restaurants
• small, single-use cosmetic and toiletry products used in the accommodation
sector
• very lightweight plastic bags (e.g. those offered at markets for bulk
groceries)

Re-use targets and re-fill obligations

The regulation sets new binding re-use targets for 2030 and indicative targets
for 2040. The targets vary depending on the type of packaging used by operators
(for instance, binding targets of 40% for transport and sales packaging and 10%
for grouped packaging).

According to the new rules, take-away businesses will have to offer customers
the possibility of bringing their own containers to be filled with cold or hot
beverages or ready-prepared food, at no additional charge.

Next steps

The formal adoption by the Council today marks the final step in the ordinary
legislative procedure. The regulation will now be published in the EU’s Official
Journal and will enter into force. The regulation will be applied 18 months
after the date of entry into force.

Background

Even though recycling rates have increased in the EU, the amount of waste
generated from packaging is growing faster than the amount recycled. In 2022,
the EU generated almost 186.5 kilograms of waste packaging per person, of which
36 were plastic packaging. This means that each day we produce half a kilogram
of packaging waste per person in the EU.

The current EU packaging and packaging waste directive was first adopted in 1994
and has been revised several times. It lays down rules to prevent and manage
packaging waste across EU member states. However, several assessments of the
directive have shown that it has not succeeded in reducing the negative
environmental impacts of packaging.

Against this backdrop, in November 2022 the Commission put forward a proposal
for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste that would replace the
existing directive and update the current framework for packaging and packaging
waste across the entire life cycle, towards a circular economy and a
climate-neutral Europe.

The European Parliament and the Council adopted their positions on the proposed
regulation in November and December 2023, respectively. The two co-legislators
reached a provisional agreement on 4 March 2024 after two rounds of informal
negotiations.

For additional details including packaging waste regulation, circular economy,
European Green deal, please visit:
Sustainable packaging: Council signs off on new rules for less waste and more
re-use in the EU - Consilium
or
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/12/16/sustainable-p
ackaging-council-signs-off-on-new-rules-for-less-waste-and-more-re-use-in-the-eu
/

About Agilyx
Agilyx ASA is at the forefront of plastic waste recycling, enabling the
conversion of challenging post-use plastics into high-value, virgin-equivalent
products. Recognizing that availability of high-quality custom feedstock is
critical for scaling recycling processes, Agilyx, through its Cyclyx joint
venture, provides tailored feedstock solutions to global plastic producers. By
advancing from a linear "make-take-waste" model to a sustainable circular
economy, Agilyx supports the transition to a low-carbon future. Our adaptable
approach ensures bespoke solutions, leveraging extensive IP and Cyclyx’s
feedstock expertise to meet diverse customer needs. For more information, visit
Agilyx’s corporate website www.agilyx.com

For investor inquiries contact: investors@agilyx.com

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