Article 4: What Will the Future Circular Economy Act Mean for the Beverage Carton Sector?
On 5 May 2026, the Circular Economy Forum 2026, organised by The Parliament Magazine, brought together European policymakers, regulators, industry representatives, and civil society organisations to discuss the future of the circular economy in Europe. At the heart of the discussions was the proposed Circular Economy Act, a European Commission initiative aimed at creating a more integrated European market for secondary raw materials, reducing regulatory fragmentation, and stimulating investment in circular solutions.
The upcoming Circular Economy Act is a unique opportunity to strengthen the European single market and the competitiveness of European companies. In complement to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the CEA will shape the system for packaging, recycling, and the use of secondary raw materials.
The beverage carton sector was represented at the forum by Konstantinos Malandrinos, Senior Policy Director for European Affairs at the Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA). During the panel discussion “Designing for Circularity: What’s Next for Product Lifecycles?” the panel explored how effective policymaking and collaboration can contribute to more circular product lifecycles across Europe. FBCA stressed the importance of looking beyond design for recycling to the entire system: from food safety and material use to collection, sorting, recycling infrastructure, and consumer information to keep materials in circulation.
Overall, it is clear that to invest confidently in circular solutions, businesses require legal certainty, supported by clear legislation, timely implementing measures, and consistent interpretation of the rules.
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