Cross-sectoral common principles relating to the Single Use Plastics Directive
22 Apr 2020
Environment

The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) supports the European Commission’s commitment to transform Europe into a more circular and resource-efficient economy. The European Strategy for Plastics laid down in January 2018 is a great opportunity for industry to develop global leadership in new technologies and materials, while embracing new business models. Plastics are widely used across all value chains, as they meet the demands of modern societies and contribute to the sustainability of products due to their innovative properties and competitive costs. However, plastics should not end up in the
wrong places and certainly not in the environment. Issues related to littering and the environment must therefore be addressed, if the material is to achieve its full potential in a circular economy.

In this context, the Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, or the ‘Single Use Plastics Directive’ aims to reduce marine litter. The Directive entered into force on 5 June 2019, and most measures should be implemented by July 2021. The European Commission is currently working to prepare guidance documents and implementation actions with the support of consultants. AmCham EU supports these efforts and is ready to contribute to achieving a clear, actionable and harmonised outcome.

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Industry calls for stable and evidence-based implementation of the Single-Use Plastic Directive

Together with nine other associations, AmCham EU has signed a joint statement on the evaluation of the Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD), calling on EU institutions to avoid reopening the Directive. A revision at this stage would create uncertainty for operators and could also increase costs and deepen fragmentation across the Single Market. Several SUPD provisions are not yet in place. Data on implementation remain limited, making it too early to assess whether the Directive is meeting its objectives. The statement also underlines the need to address gaps in transposition and enforcement. It warns against overlaps with EU legislation such as the Ecodesign Regulation, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and the Circular Economy Act. Learn how the EU can support certainty and the Single Market in the joint statement. 

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The Circular Economy Act: a silver bullet for harmonisation?

On Wednesday, 27 May, AmCham EU hosted Paulina Dejmek Hack, Head of Cabinet for Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, European Commission, for a discussion on the upcoming Circular Economy Act. Moderated by Luca Ibelli (Procter & Gamble), Vice-Chair, Environment Committee, AmCham EU, the exchange explored how the Act can support Europe’s wider simplification agenda by reducing fragmentation and strengthening competitiveness. Participants also discussed the importance of a harmonised framework grounded in a clear business case, ensuring circular economy policies help companies operate effectively across the Single Market.

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Revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation: Following a balanced Report, trilogues must secure simplification

Today, the European Parliament adopted its Omnibus VI report, including the revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, by 540 votes to 60. The outcome supports a more streamlined framework by easing the regulatory burden on value chains that rely on chemicals and sending a positive signal of the EU’s commitment to reducing unnecessary complexity.

With the Council’s position agreed in November 2025, the Parliament’s report marks the final step before trilogues, which will conclude negotiations on the targeted revision of the CLP Regulation.

The report largely aligns with the Commission’s simplification agenda and strengthens the CLP Regulation’s overall workability, especially with regards to:

  • Transition periods, setting 18 months following classification updates and allowing digital contact information to be updated on the label in line with suppliers’ regular update cycles. This better reflects supply chain realities.

  • Advertising and distance sales requirements, appropriately excluding business-to-business settings while ensuring consumers remain protected; and

  • Label legibility requirements, with more proportionate minimum font sizes and rules on background contrast, spacing and overall layout. However, further simplification is still needed to ensure sufficient flexibility for businesses.

While the report represents a constructive step forward, trilogues should address remaining constraints and clarify language that is currently difficult to interpret, including further simplification on font sizes and advertising requirements in business-to-consumer settings. These negotiations should draw on the more proportionate approaches of the Commission and the Council.

Maintaining a strong focus on simplification will be key to further alleviating administrative burdens and strengthening the EU’s resilience and competitiveness.

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