The European Union's new packaging Directive "will apply to all packaging-including medical, flexible and transport packaging," says David Perchard, RLI's European editor. "The EU will consider exemptions, and industry will have to make its case. But if your package gets [an exemption], individual countries can still regulate [your package] on their own." RLI shows the disparity in existing packaging fees. Packaging fees for paper in Germany are $255/ton, compared to $28.50/ton in Belgium. Plastic ranges from $45/ton in France to $1꽒.50/ton in Germany. And this is today. When the other 10-plus countries in the EU respond to the directive, each could have its own system with differing requirements.
Companies in this article
