{"id":68420,"date":"2026-01-23T11:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T09:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fondazioneguidovenosta.org\/en\/?p=68420"},"modified":"2026-01-23T16:41:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T14:41:24","slug":"ketchup-and-mayonnaise-sachets-banned-the-new-european-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fondazioneguidovenosta.org\/en\/ketchup-and-mayonnaise-sachets-banned-the-new-european-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Ketchup and Mayonnaise Sachets Banned: The New European Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In-depth article published on\u00a023 January 2026<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Editorial Staff
\nExcerpt from:\u00a0Ketchup and Mayonnaise Sachets Banned: The New European Rules<\/em>
\nby\u00a0Paola Arosio<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Packaging Regulation banning certain single-use items will become applicable as of\u00a012 August<\/strong>\u00a0in all Member States,\u00a0including Italy<\/strong>, without the need for a national transposition law.\u00a0Sugar<\/strong>\u00a0is among the products in sachets that will be prohibited.<\/p>\n

A salad to dress with oil, a portion of French fries to add ketchup to, a chicken breast to flavour with mayonnaise. And so you tear, squeeze, and pour. Single-serve sachets\u2014widely adopted in bars and restaurants in recent years\u2014offer hygiene, convenience and reduced waste. However, their composition, often greaseproof or plastic-coated paper made impermeable by\u00a0perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)<\/strong>, makes them difficult to recycle, resulting in a significant environmental impact.<\/p>\n

First constraints as early as this year<\/strong><\/p>\n

To address these issues,\u00a0European Regulation No. 40 of 2025<\/strong>\u2014the so-called\u00a0Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)<\/strong>\u2014has been approved. It was published on\u00a022 January last year<\/strong>\u00a0in the Official Journal and entered into force on\u00a011 February<\/strong>. From\u00a012 August 2026<\/strong>, the rules will become applicable in all Member States, Italy included, without the need for a national transposition law. From that date, the first constraints will already apply, although the most stringent restrictions will be introduced gradually.<\/p>\n

The 2030 shift and the targets to be met<\/strong><\/p>\n

The turning point will come on\u00a01 January 2030<\/strong>, when specific single-use packaging will be banned. In particular,\u00a0Article 25 of Annex V<\/strong>\u00a0prohibits small single-portion sachets of\u00a0seasonings, preserves, sauces and coffee creamer<\/strong>\u00a0intended for\u00a0hotels, restaurants and catering<\/strong>. Mini bottles of\u00a0cosmetics and detergents<\/strong>\u00a0in hotels will also be banned, as will certain\u00a0ultra-light plastic bags<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The legislation\u2014part of the\u00a0European Green Deal<\/strong>\u2014sets out precise targets.\u00a0Per-capita packaging waste<\/strong>\u00a0must decrease by at least\u00a05% by 2030<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a015% by 2040<\/strong>. Moreover, from\u00a02030<\/strong>,\u00a0100% of packaging placed on the market must be recyclable<\/strong>, otherwise sales will be prohibited.<\/p>\n

Guidance for take-away<\/strong><\/p>\n

Different rules apply to take-away. In this sector, single-portion packs may remain\u2014for now\u2014as also confirmed by the\u00a0Italian Federation of Public Establishments (FIPE)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

However, from\u00a02027<\/strong>, take-away food operators will have to allow customers to use their own containers from home in place of single-use ones,\u00a0without charging any surcharge<\/strong>. From\u00a02028<\/strong>, in addition to accepting customers\u2019 containers, businesses in the sector will have to provide a\u00a0reusable alternative<\/strong>\u00a0themselves, such as returnable packaging or deposit-based boxes.<\/p>\n

Sugar, salt and other products<\/strong><\/p>\n

The regulation explicitly mentions\u00a0sugar<\/strong>\u00a0among the sachet products that will be prohibited.<\/p>\n

Salt<\/strong>, on the other hand, is not explicitly referenced in the text and will therefore remain formally excluded from the restrictions, even though it poses similar ecological problems. As a result, it could be covered by future extensions of the rules or included through implementing interpretations by the competent authorities.<\/p>\n

The outlook is more uncertain for\u00a0jam, honey and butter<\/strong>: not always classified strictly as condiments, but often consumed on-site in single portions, they could fall within the ban if treated as table-service products\u2026<\/p>\n

Additional positive aspects to consider, beyond reducing PFAS:<\/strong><\/p>\n