Finnish Brewing Industry Faces Significant Investment Challenges due to European Union’s Packaging Waste Regulation

The European Union’s packaging waste regulation, if implemented as agreed upon, is expected to result in significant investment requirements for the Finnish brewing industry. The regulation, which was seen as a victory for the Finnish forest industry but a disappointment for the beverage industry, will lead to the creation of two different bottle return systems and require investment of hundreds of millions of euros for the brewing industry.

The CEO of Panimiolito Tuula Loikkanen expressed hope that the industry can influence the regulation with the EU Commission’s executive instructions in the future. However, the unpredictability of the legislation poses challenges for the industry in making investment decisions and renewing production lines. The member companies of the Brewery Association, such as Hartwall, Olvi, and Sinebrychoff, are impacted by the regulation, which mandates that at least ten percent of beverages must be sold in reusable packaging by 2030.

The Finnish brewing industry is concerned about the interpretation of the regulation and its applicability to different types of drinks. Implementing the regulation will require not only investment from the industry but also changes in trade practices and bottle return systems. Logistics systems will need to be revamped to accommodate the shift to refillable bottles, which poses challenges for breweries located in different regions. The regulation’s impact on Nordic countries and differences in existing bottle return systems in Central Europe are also key issues for