Italy mandates compostable packaging for single-use plastics

Italy has passed Decreto-Legge n. 143, a national law mandating compostable alternatives for various single-use plastic packaging formats. This legislation aligns with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to mitigate the use of prohibited plastics.

The mandate applies to several specific areas, including pre-packaged vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg and single-use plastic packaging for food and beverages in the HORECA (hotel, restaurant, and cafe) sector, such as individual condiment portions. It also covers single-use flexible packaging for cosmetics and hygiene products used in the hospitality industry that are discarded before a new guest arrives.

Exemptions are provided for takeaway food packaging intended for immediate consumption and packaging required for medical safety and hygiene in clinical environments. To comply, packaging must be certified as compostable under EN 13432 or an equivalent European standard.

Businesses face a three-year transition period, with non-compliance by January 1, 2030, resulting in penalties ranging from approximately US$2,940 to US$29,400. These fines can increase fourfold if the packaging value exceeds 10 percent of a company's turnover. Micro-enterprises may receive exemptions if they can demonstrate that compostable alternatives are not technically feasible.