CEN is developing European standards to support the industrial and societal need for packaging. The turnover of the packaging industry in Western Europe represents around 2% of GDP. The food industry is the main user of packaging with nearly 60% of total packaging production.
The range of packaging types and products is highly diversified and in many cases tailored to the needs of the users.
Packaging concerns a variety of actors: raw material producers, packaging converters, users, transport, distribution, consumers, waste management activities and public authorities.
In some sectors of packaging (e.g. glass, paper, cardboard, metal cans) mergers and internationalization have increased. However, there is still a large number of small and medium size companies.
News and Events
No major news to report at this stage.
Technical Bodies and activities
The collection of CEN/TC 261 'Packaging' is now composed of close to 200 normative documents or technical reports.
Sector Forum
A sector forum is a platform aiming at facilitating the exchange of information between the diferent stakeholders coordinating and identifying the standardization needs in a specific field of CEN Work.
There is no Sector Forum in this area.
European Legislation and Mandates
Packaging has a vital social and economic function and is subject to various legislative requirements related to the quality, safety and hygiene of packaged products, for example:
- requirements for the transport of dangerous goods
- regulations concerning packaging in contact with foodstuffs
- measures dealing with the environmental aspects of packaging and packaging waste
See also
Useful links and documents
There are a couple of key associations contributing actively with CEN in the support of this work: See who are the other organisations involved in 'Packaging' activities