Dorsey – New EU Packaging Rules Impact Manufacturers

New European Union legislation which becomes law this summer, and which will take effect in phases in the next few years, will tighten up environmental requirements relating to product packaging including, among other measures, requiring packaging materials to be recyclable and insofar as they contain plastics to include large portions of recycled materials, eliminating the use of harmful materials and minimising the weight and volume of packaging materials which would significantly limit manufacturers’ ability to use fanciful and over-sized packaging to attract customers and to stand out in the market. In this article we explain briefly what businesses should prepare for and describe the limited exceptions provide for in the legislation.