Source: Greenpeace
A leaked letter from more than 100 food and beverage companies reveals a last-minute attempt by Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and other companies to reopen discussions on the EU packaging law, just months before the key rules are set to take effect in August 2026.
The letter, dated April 29 and signed by executives from companies including The Coca-Cola Company, McDonald’s, Heineken, Kraft Heinz, and Mondelez International, calls on the European Commission to postpone the implementation of parts of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, known as the PPWR, and to revise several core provisions.
The PPWR is one of the EU’s most important circular economy laws and is intended to reduce packaging waste through mandatory reuse targets, recycled content requirements, and restrictions on certain types of single-use packaging.
The regulation also introduces limits on PFAS chemicals in food packaging due to concerns about possible links to cancer, infertility, and immune system disorders. The companies argue that the regulation cannot be implemented because of “unresolved legal and technical uncertainty.”
They are urging the European Commission to adjust the application date of August 12, 2026 for some provisions and to launch a targeted revision of the rules concerning PFAS chemicals, reuse targets, standards for recyclable packaging, and bans on certain types of single-use plastic.
Several sections of the leaked document address the impact of the planned restrictions on single-use plastic packaging and PFAS chemicals used in food-contact materials. The signatories stated that there is currently no harmonized EU testing method for compliance with PFAS standards and argued that, for some packaging applications, commercially available alternatives do not yet exist at scale.
The letter also targets obligations concerning the reuse of takeaway packaging and beverage containers. Companies claimed that mandatory reuse systems could require investments of billions of euros and might not deliver environmental benefits in countries with advanced recycling systems.
Environmental organizations push back
The lobbying effort has triggered significant opposition from environmental groups, consumer organizations, academics, and companies that support reuse systems.
More than 160 organizations, including the Plastic Soup Foundation, affiliated with the Break Free From Plastic coalition, sent a response urging EU leaders to reject any delay or reopening of the regulation.
The response describes the industry intervention as a “blatant attempt” by major polluters to weaken agreed environmental rules and preserve existing business models based on single-use packaging. The coalition stated that the PPWR had already undergone extensive negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, and warned that reopening the negotiations would undermine confidence in EU legislation.
