EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) Takes Effect Across the Bloc

BRUSSELS – 12 August 2026– The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) officially took effect today, marking the most significant overhaul of EU packaging law in three decades. The regulation, formally known as Regulation (EU) 2025/40, replaces the longstanding Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC) and establishes a directly applicable, harmonised legal framework across all 27 Member States.

Adopted on 19 December 2024 and entering into force on 11 February 2025, the PPWR provides an 18-month transition period before its general application. As of today, packaging placed on the EU market must comply with initial substance restrictions, including strict limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food-contact packaging and heavy metal concentration caps.

PFAS Ban Takes Immediate Effect

The most immediately impactful measure prohibits food-contact packaging containing PFAS above specified thresholds from being placed on the EU market. PFAS, often called "forever chemicals" due to their high persistence and ability to accumulate in the environment and human body, have been widely used in takeaway containers, fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, bakery paper, and pizza boxes to repel water and grease.

"Forever chemicals in packaging are harmful and unnecessary, posing a serious risk of contaminating our food and entering our bodies," said Emily Best, Senior Programme Manager at ECOS. "With these new rules, the EU has taken swift action to remove PFAS from food contact packaging, helping to reduce our exposure to them as well as making packaging more circular."

A Unified Rulebook Replaces Fragmented National Regimes

Unlike the previous directive, which allowed each Member State to take different approaches to implementation, the PPWR is directly applicable without requiring national transposition. From today onwards, a single rulebook applies across the Union, eliminating the fragmentation of 27 divergent national regimes. Compliant packaging will circulate freely throughout the internal market, and Member States may not prohibit, restrict, or impede the placing on the market of compliant packaging.

The regulation covers all packaging placed on the EU market regardless of material, as well as all packaging waste generated within the EU. It applies to businesses regardless of where they are headquartered — non-EU manufacturers selling into the EU are also in scope.

Phased Implementation Over the Coming Years

While 12 August 2026 marks a critical compliance date for initial requirements, the PPWR is designed to be implemented in phases. Key future milestones include:

• 2028: A harmonised packaging labelling system will apply across the EU to facilitate waste sorting and improve recycling and composting efficiency.

• 2030: All packaging must be recyclable; plastic packaging must meet minimum recycled content targets; limits on empty space (maximum 50% for grouped, transport, and e-commerce packaging) take effect; certain single-use packaging formats will be banned; and reuse targets for transport, e-commerce, and beverage packaging will apply.

• 2035-2040: Waste prevention targets of 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040 (compared to 2018 levels).

Compliance Obligations for Economic Operators

From today, manufacturers of packaging must carry out a conformity assessment procedure, prepare technical documentation, and draw up an EU declaration of conformity. Importers must verify that manufacturers have carried out the required conformity assessment before third-country packaging is placed on the market. Producers — defined as entities that first make packaging available in a given Member State — must register in each Member State's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) register and bear financial responsibility for waste management.

The European Commission published comprehensive guidance in March 2026 and updated FAQs in August 2026 to clarify key definitions, compliance requirements, and practical application of the PPWR. The Commission has emphasised that enforcement "should not disrupt trade flows, supply chains, or consumer access to goods".

Industry Concerns and Calls for SME Relief

Despite the regulation's entry into force, concerns remain about its impact on small and medium-sized enterprises. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, recently acknowledged that the new packaging rules impose "rigid and counterproductive burdens on European small and medium-sized businesses". In recent weeks, hundreds of micro-businesses have taken to social media to highlight the disproportionate burden they face.

The European Parliament is expected to discuss potential exemptions for micro- and small companies, with a draft report to be considered in the Environment Committee and put to a vote, most likely in October. However, any changes would require agreement with the Council of the European Union.

A Critical Step Toward Circular Economy

The PPWR represents a cornerstone of Europe's transition to a circular economy. Without action, the European Commission had projected that packaging waste would increase by 19% by 2030, while plastic packaging waste could rise by as much as 46%. The regulation aims to reduce packaging waste by 15% by 2040, increase reuse and refill systems, and ensure that packaging is designed for recycling.

"The entry into application of the PPWR on 12 August marks a crucial milestone for Europe's transition to a circular economy," said Larissa Copello, Reuse and Packaging Programme Manager at the Rethink Plastic Alliance. "After years of negotiations, now is time for an ambitious implementation that delivers on the regulation's core promise: preventing packaging waste before it is created."

The European Commission has indicated it will continue working with Member States, industry, and civil society to support practical implementation of the new rules.