Two MEPs have asked the European Commission to clarify how Member States can exempt beverage packaging formats covered by high-performing deposit return systems (DRS) from reuse targets under the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. In a written question submitted on 16 April 2026, Niels Fuglsang (S&D, Denmark) and Morten Løkkegaard (Renew, Denmark) argue that DRS can achieve environmental outcomes comparable to or better than reuse, citing a 2026 life cycle assessment from the Danish Technological Institute, and warn that mandatory reuse targets could disrupt existing systems and impose disproportionate costs.
The question, filed under Rule 144 of Parliament's rules of procedure, focuses on Article 29(18) of Regulation (EU) 2025/40, which allows for targeted exemptions from reuse obligations under certain conditions. The MEPs ask three specific questions: whether the article can be used to exempt specific beverage packaging formats when they are part of high-performing systems with comparable environmental outcomes; whether life cycle assessments and evidence of disproportionate economic or infrastructural impacts are relevant; and how the Commission will ensure legal certainty for economic operators by 2030.
The MEPs' initiative reflects a tension between reuse targets and existing DRS infrastructure. While reuse is often prioritised in EU waste legislation, the question suggests that DRS—already achieving high collection and recycling rates—should be recognised as an equally valid environmental solution. The Commission is expected to reply within six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it is open to flexibility in applying reuse targets, potentially affecting beverage producers, retailers, and waste management operators across Member States.
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