News and Statements
The head of the Executive Committee of UKRPEC, UKRPEC, spoke about the
requirements of EU Regulation 2025/40 during a discussion at the Packaging Innovations
2025 conference in Kyiv
Ukrainian businesses are ready to adapt to the new EU environmental requirements but are
awaiting the adoption of the Law “On Packaging and Packaging Waste,” according to the
participants of the Packaging Innovations conference in which UKRPEC took part.
Volodymyr Slabyi, Chairman of the Executive Committee of UKRPEC, spoke at the international
Packaging Innovations 2025 conference. In his presentation, delivered as part of the discussion
on “Sustainability Requirements for Packaging and the Recycling of Packaging Waste in
Connection with the Adoption of the New EU Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR),” Volodymyr Slabyi
emphasized the ambitious tasks the new Regulation sets for stakeholders in the packaging
market — both in the EU and in Ukraine.
The discussion sparked strong interest, as Ukrainian businesses increasingly recognize that
adaptation to the new Regulation’s requirements must begin now — otherwise, there is a risk of
losing access to European markets.
Ukrainian businesses are gradually adapting to the new standards
In particular, as part of the discussion panel, Viktoriia Haidai, Head of Packaging Materials and
Raw Materials Procurement at MHP, spoke. She confirmed the readiness of businesses to
participate in implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system in Ukraine.
According to her, MHP is already actively working on fulfilling a number of requirements set out
in the Regulation, including: minimizing packaging, ensuring its recyclability, proper labeling,
using recycled materials, and introducing reusable solutions.
Such examples demonstrate that
Ukrainian businesses are gradually adapting to new environmental standards and are ready to
take greater responsibility for the full life cycle of packaging.
Another highlight for the discussion participants was the presentation by Pavlo Zamotaiev,
Director of HG Consulting, who focused on the challenges inevitably associated with
implementing the principles of the circular economy. He emphasized that the reform requires
careful planning, as even the best laws cannot guarantee success without it.
Using international experience — including that of the United States — Mr. Zamotaiev analyzed
common challenges in reforming the packaging waste management sector.
Without the adoption of new legislation, changes in the industry are impossible
Oleh Lozovyi, Director of POLYGREEN / Biosphere Corporation — a company specializing in
polyethylene waste recycling — also joined the discussion. According to him, real change in the
field of packaging waste management is unlikely without the adoption of appropriate legislation.
However, the Law “On Packaging and Packaging Waste” has still not been passed, and its
drafting process lacks transparency.
Oleh Lozovyi also outlined the current situation in the recycling sector: despite existing
production capacities, Ukraine lacks sufficient recyclable materials. Only about 4% of plastic
waste is recycled, while the majority ends up in landfills.
We at UKRPEC have repeatedly emphasized that without the development of a full-fledged
system for separate collection and sorting of waste, it will be impossible to provide Ukrainian
enterprises with an adequate amount of secondary raw materials. Today, many Ukrainian
companies are forced to import recyclable materials from abroad, which increases production
costs and hinders the development of the industry. To change the situation, comprehensive and
systematic efforts at the national level are required.
Packaging waste management is the responsibility of the producer
Chairman of the Executive Committee of UKRPEC, Volodymyr Slabyi, explained in his
presentation that the European Union spent more than 30 years moving toward the adoption of
the new Regulation. During this period, Europeans adopted two packaging directives and a
number of accompanying acts, which are now consolidated into a single programmatic
document. The new Regulation contains references to 74 other documents. Thanks to the
adoption of the PPWR, we can now state that all rules governing packaging waste management
are presented within one comprehensive legal act.
“The European Union has gradually raised the target indicators for packaging recycling over
decades — on average by 5% annually. The Regulation sets mandatory recycling levels of 65%
of all packaging waste by 2030 and 70% by 2040. For Ukraine — which currently lacks a
system of separate collection, sufficient sorting facilities, specialized transport, and certified
laboratories — reaching such targets from scratch will be extremely difficult, if not practically
impossible,” Volodymyr Slabyi emphasized.
As noted by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of UKRPEC, in a system based on the
European model of Extended Producer Responsibility, control over packaging waste
management must rest exclusively in the hands of producers of packaging and packaged
goods. After all, only producers — already at the packaging design stage — can determine its
characteristics, including recyclability. Meanwhile, voices in the domestic media continue to
suggest involving packaging recyclers or companies providing municipal waste collection
services in waste management, which demonstrates a lack of understanding of the Extended
Producer Responsibility principle and how it is implemented in EU law and policy.
UKRPEC extends its gratitude to the conference organizers, as well as to the moderator of the
discussion, Oleksandr Aleksandrov, Director of the Dow Ukraine representative office, for the
opportunity to engage in a productive discussion.
Packaging Innovations is an important professional forum that enables stakeholders to move
closer to a rational and fair consensus on key issues concerning the future of the industry.
Watch the full video recording of the discussion on EU Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR) held within
the Packaging Innovations conference: