Paragraph 1 Requirements specific to the manufacturing and composition of packaging

United Kingdom

(1)

Packaging must be so manufactured that the packaging volume and weight is limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer.

F1(2)

Packaging must be designed, produced and commercialised in such a way as to—

(a)

permit its reuse or recovery (including recycling), in line with the waste hierarchy, and;

(b)

minimise its impact on the environment when packaging waste or residues from packaging waste management operations are disposed of.

(3)

Packaging must be so manufactured that the presence of noxious and other hazardous substances and materials as constituents of the packaging material or of any of the packaging components is minimised with regard to their presence in emissions, ash or leachate when packaging or residues from management operations or packaging waste are incinerated or landfilled.

F2(4)

In sub-paragraph (2)(a), the reference to “the waste hierarchy” is to be interpreted in accordance with—

(a)

in relation to England and Wales, regulation 12(1) and (2) of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011;

(F3F4b)

in relation to Scotland, paragraphs 4(2) and (3) of schedule 11 (waste management activities) to the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018;

(c)

in relation to Northern Ireland, regulation 17(1) and (2) of the Waste (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2011.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Sch. 1 para. 1(2) substituted (1.10.2020) by The Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/904), regs. 1(1), 19(3)(a)(i)
F2: Sch. 1 para. 1(4) inserted (1.10.2020) by The Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/904), regs. 1(1), 19(3)(a)(ii)
F3: Sch. 1 para. 1(4)(b) substituted (S.) (1.11.2025) by virtue of The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 29 (with sch. 23)
F4: Second Sch. 1 para. 1(4)(a) renumbered as Sch. 1 para. 1(4)(b) (S.) (26.3.2026) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026 (S.S.I. 2026/55), regs. 1, 15

Notes on Schedule 1

Textual amendments

F1: Words in Sch. 1 heading omitted (E.W.S.) (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Waste (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/188), regs. 1(2)(b), 20(8)(a) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1540, regs. 1(2), 11(2)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)