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Indicator Specification
Packaging represents a use of resources, and has typically a short lifetime. There are environmental impacts from the extraction of resources, the production of the packaging, the collection of packaging waste and the treatment or disposal of the waste.
Packaging waste is covered by specific EU regulations and there are specific targets for recycling and recovery. Information on the amounts of packaging waste generated therefore provides an indicator of the effectiveness of waste prevention policies.
Total packaging used in EU Member States in kg per capita.
Recycling of packaging waste as a share of packaging used in EU Member States. The amount of packaging used is expected to equal the amount of packaging waste generated because of its short lifetime.
kg per capita, percentage
This strategy sets out guidelines for European Union (EU) action and describes the ways in which waste management can be improved.
This Directive establishes a legal framework for the treatment of waste within the Community. It aims at protecting the environment and human health through the prevention of the harmful effects of waste generation and waste management.
Table 1: Targets of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive
By weight | Targets in 94/62/EC | targets in 2004/12/EC |
---|---|---|
Overall recovery target |
min. 50 %, max. 65 % |
min. 60 % |
Overall recycling target |
min. 25 %, max. 45 % |
min. 55 %, max.80 % |
Year to achieve targets |
30 June 2001 |
31 December 2008 |
Note: Greece, Ireland, Portugal and the New Member States have individual derogations to meet the new targets. Depending on country, the targets will have to be reached 3 to 7 years later.
Source: Official Journal L 365 , 31/12/1994 P. 0010 - 0023 and Official Journal L 047 , 18/02/2004 P. 0026 - 0032
The graph of quantities of packaging waste generated is derived by dividing the amount of packaging used in the country by the country's population for the year in question.
Formula:
(Total packaging waste generation (kg) / Population) = Packaging waste generation per capita
The graph of recycling of packaging waste is derived by dividing the quantity of packaging waste recycled by the total quantity of packaging waste generated and expressing it as a percentage.
Formula:
(Recycling of packaging waste in tonnes (year x)) * 100 /
Total packaging waste generation in tonnes (year x)
= Recycling rate for packaging waste (%)
No data gap filling is required
No methodology references available.
The Commission Decision of 3 February 1997 establishes the formats, which Member States are to use in the annual reporting on the Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste. However, the decision does not define methods to estimate the quantities of packaging put on the market or to calculate the recovery and recycling rates in more detail to ensure data comparability.
Due to the absence of harmonised methodology, national data on packaging waste are not always comparable. Some countries include all packaging waste in the figure on total packaging waste generation while other countries only include the total for the four obligatory packaging waste streams; glass, metal, plastic, wood and paper and board.
No uncertainty has been specified
Work specified here requires to be completed within 1 year from now.
Work specified here will require more than 1 year (from now) to be completed.
No resource needs have been specified
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/generation-and-recycling-of-packaging-waste or scan the QR code.
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