The European Union wants to reduce packaging waste and has issued a new regulation for this purpose.Image: Shutterstock
February 24, 2026, 1:49 p.mFebruary 24, 2026, 1:49 p.m
Anyone who is happy about the small hygiene products when visiting a hotel will soon be disappointed. Because the European Union has declared war on packaging waste and that has an impact on exactly these little gifts like this “Bild” newspaper writes. She quotes from the EU Regulation 2025/40. The aim of this is to reduce packaging waste, increase reuse and recycling and create uniform regulations in the EU internal market.
The regulation has been in force since 2025 and will apply to all European member states from 2026. In detail, it provides for bans in the catering and hotel industries because this is where a particularly large amount of waste is generated.
In the hotel industry, one of the specific issues is shampoo bottles, which are often provided in rooms for guests. Appendix five (“Restrictions on the use of certain packaging formats”) also explicitly mentions shampoo bottles as well as bottles for hand and body lotion and soap bars.
Image: EU
As the “Bild” newspaper writes, these shampoo bottles will “disappear step by step” from 2030 onwards. From January 1, 2030, companies will be prohibited from offering such packaging.
However, it is still unclear which products exactly fall into this category. The EU Commission should develop concrete examples and guidelines. The hotel industry must be informed by February 2027 so that it can prepare for the ban at an early stage.
However, the regulation does not generally apply to care products, but only to certain packaging. Refillable dispenser systems, for example, may continue to be used. And according to “Bild”, it is still unclear how strictly the line will be drawn between hotel and private travel products. (ome)