Recent discussions on the proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) have highlighted both increased clarity and emerging concerns—particularly around definitions and exemptions.
A recent article by NEPSA Director Chresten Heide-Anderson uses this debate as a starting point to explore a broader question:
How do definitions and measurement frameworks influence environmental outcomes?
The article reflects on:
- Differences in how “plastic” is defined across policy frameworks such as SUPD and PPWR
- The importance of considering system performance, including product protection and recyclability
- The potential for unintended substitution effects when regulation focuses on specific metrics
It also introduces three analytical perspectives relevant to policy design:
- substitution bias
- Goodhart’s Law
- and the role of framing in shaping decisions
The key message is that while policy objectives such as reducing packaging waste and preventing leakage are widely supported, outcomes depend on how problems are defined, measured, and translated into targets.
