The Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation has revealed a new ordinance for packaging, mandating minimum recycling rates of 55% for plastic packaging and 70% for beverage cartons.
The Ordinance on Packaging (VerpV) is set to replace existing legislation first introduced in 2000. It is designed to lessen the environmental impact of packaging by ensuring that any packaging placed on the Swiss market is ‘as recyclable as possible’ and increasing its recycled content.
Market operators are now expected to eliminate unnecessary packaging and packaging containing hazardous substances, as defined under Article 70(1) of the Ordinance on Protection against Dangerous Substances and Preparations (ChemO), by 2030.
Alongside minimum recycling targets, the law requires manufacturers and retailers to offer separate collection services for single-use plastic packaging in line with Motion 20.3695 (Promoting the Circular Economy: Switzerland Should Recycle More Plastic) and the new legal framework of Parliamentary Initiative 20.433 (Strengthening the Swiss Circular Economy).
Certain glass formats, including food packaging, will be subject to an advance disposal fee and used to finance waste disposal. Beverage containers will be exempt from the deposit requirement.
The Ordinance on Waste Avoidance and Disposal (VVEA), which was amended earlier this year, also seeks to improve material recovery and/or reuse in line with the Environmental Protection Act. The Federal Council is implementing Motion 24.3475 (Removing the regulatory obstacle to zinc recycling), which requires the operators of waste incineration plants to recover recyclable materials from filter ash.
An upcoming amendment will also update the ordinance on administrative fines, laying out uniform charges for littering and the illegal disposal of large quantities of municipal waste. Fines could reach up to 250 Swiss francs, depending on the type and quantity of waste.
The Federal Council adopted the amended VVEA on 24 June 2026, and it will come into force on 1 August 2026. VerpV will follow, applying from the beginning of 2027.
The development comes after the European Commission announced the withdrawal of its detailed opinion over Germany’s draft Packaging Law Implementation Act – permitting the legislation to enter into force alongside the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Over in the United States, multiple state attorneys general are filing a lawsuit against the enforcement of California’s Plastics Act. They argue that the law requires ‘radical’ packaging redesigns for market access and increases product costs for consumers.
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