Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The dataset provides data on packaging and packaging waste in order to monitor compliance with the quantitative recovery and recycling targets. Data is collected on the basis of the European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste, as last amended. The reporting details are laid down in Commission Decision 2005/270/EC of 22 March 2005 establishing the formats relating to the database system pursuant to Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste.
'Packaging' in this context means all products made of any materials of any nature to be used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods, from raw materials to processed goods, from the producer to the user or the consumer. 'Non-returnable' items used for the same purposes shall also be considered to constitute packaging.
'Packaging waste' means any packaging or packaging material covered by the definition of waste in the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, excluding production residues.
Further information on packaging waste can be found on the website Packaging waste of Directorate General Environment.
3.2. Classification system
The packaging and packaging waste data are broken down by waste categories (packaging material) and by treatment operation. The reporting methodology and details on packaging and packaging waste are laid down in Commission Decision 2005/270/EC of 22 March 2005 establishing the formats relating to the database system pursuant to Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste. Data displayed in Eurostat's database are broken down by waste categories (waste) and by waste management operations (wst_oper).
Waste categories:
Paper and cardboard packaging;
plastic packaging;
wooden packaging;
metallic packaging;
glass packaging;
other packaging.
Metallic packaging is further split into the categories aluminium packaging and steel packaging, reporting on these two subcategories was voluntary untill 2019 (reference year).
Waste management operations:
a. Waste generated
b. Recovery (sum of: c, d and e)
c. Recovery — energy recovery from packaging waste.
d. Recovery — other (other than energy recovery and recycling)
e. Recycling (sum of f, g and h)
f. Recycling in the Member State
g. Recycling in other Member States of the EU
h. Recycling outside the EU
i. Repair
3.3. Coverage - sector
All packaging placed on the market and all packaging waste generated in a country are covered, whether it is used or released at industrial, commercial, office, shop, service, household or any other level, regardless of the packaging material used.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The weight of recovered or recycled packaging waste shall be the input of packaging waste to an effective recovery or recycling process. If the output of a sorting plant is sent to effective recycling or recovery processes without significant losses, it is acceptable to consider this output to be the weight of recovered or recycled packaging waste.
Packaging waste sent to other Member States or exported out of the European Union shall be counted as recovered or recycled only if there is sound evidence that the recovery and/or recycling took place under conditions that are broadly equivalent to those prescribed by the European Union legislation on the matter.
Packaging waste generated in a Member State may be deemed to be equal to the amount of packaging placed on the market in the same year within that Member State.
The amount of packaging placed on the market excludes exported packaging and includes imported packaging.
The reporting of data on import/export of packaging is voluntary, except for export for material recycling.
The amount of treated packaging waste reported by a Member State includes the packaging waste exported for recycling or recovery outside that Member State.
The amount of treated packaging waste reported by a Member State excludes the packaging waste imported to that Member State for treatment.
'Recovery rate' means the total quantity of packaging waste recovered divided by the total quantity of generated packaging waste (recovery / generation).
'Recycling rate' means the total quantity of recycled packaging waste divided by the total quantity of generated packaging waste (recycling / generation).
The data set 'Recycling rates of packaging waste for monitoring compliance with policy targets, by type of packaging (env_waspacr)' includes for two types of waste material (plastic and wood) 'Adjusted recycling rate'. That means the recycling rates adjusted for monitoring compliance with policy targets in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 94/62/EC and Article 6b(1) of Decision 2005/270. The relevant rates for those materials are:
Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste counts exclusively material that is recycled back into plastic (material recycling / generation).
Recycling rate of wooden packaging waste is calculated including repair (recycling + repair of wooden packaging waste / generation + repair of wooden packaging waste).
3.5. Statistical unit
Reporting units might be: producers, importers, exporters, distributors, enterprises, local units, establishments or households, etc.
Observation units are units of weight of packaging waste.
3.6. Statistical population
All packaging waste generated within a country and treated per year.
3.7. Reference area
EU Member States, EEA/EFTA countries except Switzerland and the UK (Only Northern Ireland from reference year 2019).
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data on packaging waste are published for each year from 1997 onwards.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
1) Tonnes.
2) Kilogram per capita, based on the annual average of the population: table ‘Demographic balance and crude rates’ (demo_gind), demographic indicator: average population – total (indic_de=AVG).
3) Percentage of packaging waste recovered and recycled.
The reference period is the calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste.
Commission Decision 2005/270/EC of 22 March 2005 establishing the formats relating to the database system pursuant to Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
There is no data sharing with other international organisations; international organisations can use the data as published in the dissemination database.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable, there are no confidential data in this dataset.
8.1. Release calendar
There is no release calendar, data dissemination is explained in item 9 below.
8.2. Release calendar access
See 8.1.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the European Union legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
Data received by 30 June, 18 months after the end of the reference period (T+18; where T = reference year), will be published four months later (T+22). The dataset is updated in March of the following year (T+27).
Details on the reporting intervals, definitions and breakdown of data can be found in the European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste and the amending acts [See amending acts], and in the Commission Decision Decision 2005/270/EC of 22 March 2005 establishing the formats relating to the database system pursuant to Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste.
Guidance on reporting is provided in Methodology in Eurostat's website.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Reporting countries submit, together with the completed tables, an appropriate description of how the data have been compiled. That description shall also give an explanation of any estimates used.
11.1. Quality assurance
The original data collection is done by the Member States, while Eurostat validates the annual national data as reported by Member States. The quality assurance and documentation of the quality is a joint responsibility of Eurostat and the Member States.
Certain data format checks are carried out during the data entry into the country questionnaire. The validation routines at Eurostat include checks related to consistency, plausibility, development over time and observations are discussed with the countries.
A validation report is submitted each year to the European Commission DG Environment, as the responsible body for the monitoring of the implementation of the Packaging Directive.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Overall data are of good quality. Data are collected from reliable sources applying high standards with regard to the methodology and ensuring a high degree of comparability.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Main users are: the European Commission (for purposes of monitoring waste legislation), the Council, the European Parliament, researchers, politicians, general public, etc.
User needs as defined in the recitals of the Directive 94/62/EC.
National measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste should be harmonized in order, on the one hand, to prevent any impact thereof on the environment or to reduce such impact, thus providing a high level of environmental protection, and, on the other hand, to ensure the functioning of the internal market and to avoid obstacles to trade and distortion and restriction of competition within the European Union.
Further information on the policy need of data on packaging can be found here: Packaging waste.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No systematic user satisfaction survey has been conducted. User satisfaction is discussed with the main users from the European Commission.
12.3. Completeness
Reporting is mandatory, the data sets are of a high level of completeness.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
See 10.7 and 11.1.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Data have to be submitted 18 months after the end of the reference period (T+18). The delay between the reference period and the data publication is around 22 months (T+22).
14.2. Punctuality
Data have to be submitted 18 months after the end of the reference period (T+18). Most countries do respect this deadline, some countries deliver with a small delay. In a few cases the delay is more than 2 months.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The comparability across countries is good due to clear statistical concepts and definitions.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Reporting is mandatory, comparability over time is fairly high. A break in time series is indicated with the respective footnote.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not available.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence is ensured by Eurostat thus aggregates are coherent with sub-aggregates.
Every year Eurostat publishes the complete time series, which may lead to revisions of data previously published. Data are revised once in between annual releases.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Every year the questionnaire requests data for a given reference year. If data are revised by countries, it is done for the reference year.
Reported errors are assessed for seriousness to determine whether they should trigger a correction of already disseminated data. Reported errors may be corrected in the disseminated data but are usually revised once in between annual releases.
18.1. Source data
Member States follow different approaches, the set up of 'producer compliance schemes' responsible for the implementation of and the reporting on the Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste is very common.
Member states collect data from various sources depending on the indicator (generation of waste, recycling, recovery, etc.)
Surveys,
National statistical institute,
Administrative sources such as municipalities, e.g.: waste management facilities, collective management schemes, reprocessing plants,
Data collection is done by Member States, by either the Ministry of Environment or Environmental Protection Agencies or another appointed national authority.
Member States are transmitting data via questionnaires through EDAMIS.
The EDAMIS workflow for Packaging waste is WASTE_PACKDAT_A.
The Member States also transmit a quality report via ESS Metadata Handler. These reports can be consulted together with the European metadata.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation is done by Eurostat in close cooperation with Member States' competent authorities.
Certain data format checks are carried out during the data entry into the questionnaire. The validation routines at Eurostat include checks related to consistency, plausibility, development over time and clarification requests are sent to countries in case of observations.
Methodology reports from countries are consulted during the validation process. In case of revision of data the Member State transmits a new questionnaire.
18.5. Data compilation
The European aggregates are calculated by adding up the national data on waste amounts. EU aggregates are compiled when the Member States which have reported data represent 60% of the population and 55% of the number of Member States defining the aggregate; missing data for Member States which did not report are estimated on the basis of the previous year and rounded to closest thousand.
For the calculation of kilogram per capita the national amounts of waste generated and treated are divided by the average population of this country in the relevant year.
The average population for the calculation of kilogram per capita is taken from the table "Demographic balance and crude rates" (demo_gind, indic_de=AVG) in Eurobase.
The recovery and recycling rates are calculated in percentage i.e. the total quantity of recycled or recovered packaging waste divided by the quantity of generated packaging.
18.6. Adjustment
Recycling rates are adjusted for monitoring compliance with policy targets in accordance with Articles 6 of Directive 94/62/EC and Article 6b(1) of Decision 2005/270.
The dataset provides data on packaging and packaging waste in order to monitor compliance with the quantitative recovery and recycling targets. Data is collected on the basis of the European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste, as last amended. The reporting details are laid down in Commission Decision 2005/270/EC of 22 March 2005 establishing the formats relating to the database system pursuant to Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste.
'Packaging' in this context means all products made of any materials of any nature to be used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods, from raw materials to processed goods, from the producer to the user or the consumer. 'Non-returnable' items used for the same purposes shall also be considered to constitute packaging.
'Packaging waste' means any packaging or packaging material covered by the definition of waste in the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, excluding production residues.
Further information on packaging waste can be found on the website Packaging waste of Directorate General Environment.
26 February 2025
The weight of recovered or recycled packaging waste shall be the input of packaging waste to an effective recovery or recycling process. If the output of a sorting plant is sent to effective recycling or recovery processes without significant losses, it is acceptable to consider this output to be the weight of recovered or recycled packaging waste.
Packaging waste sent to other Member States or exported out of the European Union shall be counted as recovered or recycled only if there is sound evidence that the recovery and/or recycling took place under conditions that are broadly equivalent to those prescribed by the European Union legislation on the matter.
Packaging waste generated in a Member State may be deemed to be equal to the amount of packaging placed on the market in the same year within that Member State.
The amount of packaging placed on the market excludes exported packaging and includes imported packaging.
The reporting of data on import/export of packaging is voluntary, except for export for material recycling.
The amount of treated packaging waste reported by a Member State includes the packaging waste exported for recycling or recovery outside that Member State.
The amount of treated packaging waste reported by a Member State excludes the packaging waste imported to that Member State for treatment.
'Recovery rate' means the total quantity of packaging waste recovered divided by the total quantity of generated packaging waste (recovery / generation).
'Recycling rate' means the total quantity of recycled packaging waste divided by the total quantity of generated packaging waste (recycling / generation).
The data set 'Recycling rates of packaging waste for monitoring compliance with policy targets, by type of packaging (env_waspacr)' includes for two types of waste material (plastic and wood) 'Adjusted recycling rate'. That means the recycling rates adjusted for monitoring compliance with policy targets in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 94/62/EC and Article 6b(1) of Decision 2005/270. The relevant rates for those materials are:
Recycling rate of plastic packaging waste counts exclusively material that is recycled back into plastic (material recycling / generation).
Recycling rate of wooden packaging waste is calculated including repair (recycling + repair of wooden packaging waste / generation + repair of wooden packaging waste).
Reporting units might be: producers, importers, exporters, distributors, enterprises, local units, establishments or households, etc.
Observation units are units of weight of packaging waste.
All packaging waste generated within a country and treated per year.
EU Member States, EEA/EFTA countries except Switzerland and the UK (Only Northern Ireland from reference year 2019).
The reference period is the calendar year.
See 10.7 and 11.1.
1) Tonnes.
2) Kilogram per capita, based on the annual average of the population: table ‘Demographic balance and crude rates’ (demo_gind), demographic indicator: average population – total (indic_de=AVG).
3) Percentage of packaging waste recovered and recycled.
The European aggregates are calculated by adding up the national data on waste amounts. EU aggregates are compiled when the Member States which have reported data represent 60% of the population and 55% of the number of Member States defining the aggregate; missing data for Member States which did not report are estimated on the basis of the previous year and rounded to closest thousand.
For the calculation of kilogram per capita the national amounts of waste generated and treated are divided by the average population of this country in the relevant year.
The average population for the calculation of kilogram per capita is taken from the table "Demographic balance and crude rates" (demo_gind, indic_de=AVG) in Eurobase.
The recovery and recycling rates are calculated in percentage i.e. the total quantity of recycled or recovered packaging waste divided by the quantity of generated packaging.
Member States follow different approaches, the set up of 'producer compliance schemes' responsible for the implementation of and the reporting on the Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste is very common.
Member states collect data from various sources depending on the indicator (generation of waste, recycling, recovery, etc.)
Surveys,
National statistical institute,
Administrative sources such as municipalities, e.g.: waste management facilities, collective management schemes, reprocessing plants,
Data received by 30 June, 18 months after the end of the reference period (T+18; where T = reference year), will be published four months later (T+22). The dataset is updated in March of the following year (T+27).
Data have to be submitted 18 months after the end of the reference period (T+18). The delay between the reference period and the data publication is around 22 months (T+22).
The comparability across countries is good due to clear statistical concepts and definitions.
Reporting is mandatory, comparability over time is fairly high. A break in time series is indicated with the respective footnote.
