Ukraine is stepping up its alignment with the EU environmental acquis by strengthening its waste legal framework —an important milestone on the path towards a circular economy and closer integration with the EU market.
From 1 to 5 December 2025, a Ukrainian delegation took part in a study visit to Austria to support the alignment of its packaging and packaging waste legislation with the EU acquis.
Learning from Austria’s experience
The visit, organised by the Environment Agency Austria under the EU4Green Recovery East programme (2025-2028), brought together experts from the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, as well as representatives of Ukrainian packaging business associations: the Ukrainian Packaging and Ecological Coalition (UKRPEC) and The Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Centre (RECPC). Representatives of the Swedish project Reform of municipal waste management also joined the study visit.
Disucssions focused on practical solutions for legal approximation, institutional cooperation, financing mechanisms, reporting obligations and inspection systems related to packaging waste.
Particular attention was given to how an Extender Producer Responsibility (EPR) system could be designed to fit Ukraine’s national context, considering regional differences, existing waste management structures and current war conditions. Austrian experts shared practical experience, highlighting the benefits of starting with regional pilot approaches before scaling up nationwide.
Mandatory reporting obligations of all EU member states to the European Commission were also addressed, with the Environment Agency Austria presenting its Monitoring, Reporting, and Information Systems.
From legislation to practice
To link legislation with practice, the delegation also visited two recycling companies near Vienna. These field visits showcased how EU packaging waste requirements are implemented on the ground, from sorting and recycling to high-quality PET-to-PET recycling solutions.
The exchange helped reinforce the link between legislation, enforcement, and market-based solutions—essential for building an effective and credible waste management system.
Why packaging waste matter
The study visit contributed directly to refining Ukraine’s draft experimental regulation on packaging waste and identifying concrete next steps for implementation.
“Such measures are an important step in Ukraine’s preparation for integration into the European market. They support harmonisation with EU requirements, the development of an effective waste management system, and stronger cooperation between public authorities, businesses, and international partners,” said Olena Kalashnyk, Head of the Waste Department at the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
Improving packaging waste management is a key element of the EU’s circular economy approach, which prioritises waste prevention, reuse and recycling over disposal. EU rules also make producers responsible for the waste their products generate. Aligning with these standards helps reduce environmental impacts, lower greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resource efficiency—while enabling businesses to better access EU markets.
This article was produced with financial support of the European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of the EU4Green Recovery East consortium and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Governments of the Eastern Partnership countries.
