European Commission Study Proposes Sustainability Framework for Upcoming FCM Legislation Revision

Defining Sustainable FCMs

The study establishes a forward-looking definition, stating that sustainable FCMs must ensure current food safety and supply "without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs." This requires transformative change across the entire lifecycle to achieve maximum circularity and minimal health and environmental impact. Notably, the definition extends to facilitating healthier and more sustainable diets.

Seven Key Sustainability Challenges Identified

The report diagnoses seven severe problems with the current FCM landscape:

1.  Plastic pollution and human exposure to synthetic chemicals.

2.  The prevalence of multi-materials that cannot be recycled.

3.  Most FCMs are not designed for recycling.

4.  A high reliance on primary (virgin) materials.

5.  Single-use applications far exceeding reuse models.

6.  The use of "pervasive chemicals" that pose long-term threats to public health and ecosystems.

7.  The untapped potential of FCMs to enable a more sustainable food system.

Proposed Policy Measures for Legislation

To address these gaps, the study prioritizes four policy measures with high potential for integration into the revised EU FCM framework:

1.  Harmonized Standards for Reusable FCMs: Ensuring safety and durability.

2.  Eco-Design Guidance: Integrating circularity, resource efficiency, and chemical safety at the design stage.

3.  A Product Essentiality Test: Assessing whether materials and chemicals used are truly necessary and aligned with sustainability goals.

4.  Sector-Wide, Science-Based Targets: Setting measurable goals for pollution prevention, resource use, chemical safety, and circularity.

Context and Next Steps

The revision of the core EU FCM Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 has been underway since a roadmap was laid out in 2020. The study confirms the need for FCM-specific sustainability measures, arguing that while existing EU policies on packaging and plastics can address some issues, dedicated legislation is required to close remaining gaps. The formal next steps and timeline for implementing the proposed measures into draft legislation remain unclear.

Reference

European Commission (2025). “Study on sustainability in the context of food contact materials (FCM) in view of a possible revision of the FCM legislation.” DOI: 10.2875/3789818

Source Article Link: https://foodpackagingforum.org/news/european-commission-study-on-fcm-sustainability-for-revising-eu-legislation