Poland packaging industry faces new EU recycling regulations

The Polish packaging industry is facing upcoming regulatory shifts driven by European Union directives aimed at reducing waste and maximizing material recovery. According to the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), Poland produces approximately 6 million tons of packaging annually, a sector that accounts for 3.4% of the country's total industrial processing.

On average, a person in Poland consumes about 160 kg of packaging per year. While this is lower than the EU average of approximately 180 kg, consumption for goods sold in Poland has been growing dynamically at nearly 12% annually. The market is currently dominated by plastics (40%), followed by paper (37%), light metals (12%), and glass (10%). Food producers are the largest consumers, utilizing over 60% of all packaging.

To ensure safety and compliance, particularly with food contact materials, producers must adhere to regulations such as EC No 1935/2004. This includes providing declarations of conformity and migration test results to prevent harmful substances from transferring to food. There is an increasing emphasis on eco-friendly alternatives, such as materials that are fully biodegradable or compostable under industrial conditions within 90 days, as verified by standards like EN 13432.