Italy enacts new law on single-use plastic packaging

Italy has implemented new legislation regarding single-use plastic packaging, known as the Packaging Decree (Dl 143/2026). Approved by the Chamber of Deputies, the law mandates that specific categories of single-use plastics—including packaging for fresh produce under 1.5 kg, certain Horeca sector items, and hygiene products in hospitality settings—must be certified as biodegradable and compostable according to European standards (UNI EN 13432). While sanctions for non-compliance ranging from 2,500 to 25,000 euros will be introduced, they will not become operational until January 1, 2030, to allow businesses time to adapt.

This regulatory shift occurs alongside complex data regarding the nation's recycling performance. According to CONAI, Italy achieved a 77.3% recycling rate for packaging in 2025, processing nearly 11 million tons of the 14.2 million tons placed on the market. However, regional reports indicate logistical challenges in waste management. In areas such as Rimini and Cesena, plastic collected through separate waste streams has reportedly been incinerated due to a lack of available processing facilities, highlighting a disconnect between collection efforts and industrial recycling capacity.