The start of 2025 brings with it a change in the manufacturing of plastic bottles in Europe. Starting this year, bottles made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) must contain at least 25% recycled plasticas established by Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament. This regulation seeks to reduce the environmental impact of plastic products and is part of a broader strategy towards sustainability.
This change not only requires adapting production processes, but also ensuring that quality and safety standards are met. The measure is part of a long-term plan that establishes that By 2030 all bottles must contain at least 30% recycled plastic.
These regulations are part of the European Union’s efforts to combat single-use plastic pollution, which seriously affects the seas and oceans. According to recent studies, plastic waste represents a growing threat to marine ecosystems and measures like this seek to stop its accumulation and mitigate its effects.
It is not the first time that European regulations introduce important changes in the design of plastic bottles. In 2018, the EU approved the standard that requires manufacturers to produce bottles with caps attached to the container. This change, implemented gradually, aimed to reduce the waste generated by loose caps, often difficult to recycle and prone to ending up in natural environments.
In Spain, the Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils has also reinforced these measures. This regulation, aligned with European guidelines, establishes that only single-use plastic products whose lids and plugs remain attached to the container may be marketed.
Although these impositions represent a complication for manufacturers, they also open the door to new opportunities in the innovation of sustainable materials and processes.