Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents an overview of environmental law at the Community level with respect to packaging materials. It examines the text of the Directive and looks at the compromises and amendments made during the drafting process. The book addresses the work remaining to be completed by Community institutions. It explores the types of packaging materials legislation implemented by the various Member States, in terms of the difficult systems used and the different allocations of responsibility along the packaging chain. The book looks at the ongoing debate regarding constraints on certain types of packaging, such as reuse quotas and bans, and considers the effects of such constraints on the internal market. It analyses the use of economic policy instruments and environmental agreements to implement the Directive, as well as their effect on the internal market.