(EU) European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste

This Directive establishes measures aimed primarily at preventing the generation of packaging waste and additionally at promoting the reuse of packaging, recycling, and other forms of packaging waste recovery, thereby reducing the final disposal of such waste to contribute to the transition towards a circular economy. It applies to all packaging placed on the Community market and all packaging waste, regardless of the material used, whether it is used or released at the industrial, commercial, office, shop, service, household, or any other level. The implementation of this Directive is without prejudice to existing quality requirements for packaging (e.g., regarding safety, protection of health, and hygiene of the packed products), existing transport requirements, or the provisions of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste.