The new European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) comes into force on 11 February 2025 and will generally apply from 12 August 2026. This week, we look at how the changes in packaging might affect your business.
The 325-page PPWR document includes new requirements for businesses in the supply chain, with four key aims: prevent and reduce packaging waste; make all packaging recyclable and economically viable; safely increase the use of recycled plastics in packaging; and decrease the use of virgin materials in packaging, which would put the sector on track to climate neutrality by 2050.
PPWR outlines a set of requirements for EU states that cover the entire packaging life cycle—from product design to waste handling—but today, we focus on the ones that mostly affect logistics, shipping, and e-commerce. For further information, please read the full EU PPWR document HERE.
Minimising the Weight and Volume of Packaging
The PPWR will require packaging to be reduced to the minimum necessary to prevent unnecessary waste by 1 January 2030. All businesses supplying a final distributor or end-user (grouped, transportation, and e-commerce) must meet the minimum requirements. Otherwise, this kind of packaging will be banned. According to PPWR, the empty space ratio in packaging cannot exceed 50%. The exception from the ban will be given for reusable packaging, new innovation-driven packaging types, and packaging that cannot meet criteria due to geographical indications of origins protected under EU law.
Making All Packaging Recyclable
Starting on 1 January 2028, the new design for recycling (DfR) legislation will come into force, setting the standard for the packaging and its recyclability based on performance grades. From 1 January 2030, all packaging on the market must comply with the DfR criteria of 70% or more. Otherwise, it will not be classed as recyclable. Five years later, from 1 January 2035, the EU will require all packaging to be recycled at scale, with a few exemptions that include food packaging and "innovative" packaging (for a limited time).
Technical Documentation Gets Stricter
Packaging manufacturers must meet new requirements, such as carrying out a conformity assessment, creating a Declaration of Conformity and maintaining it along with the technical documentation after the packaging is placed on the market. This documentation must be kept on file for 5 years (single-use packaging) or 10 years (reusable packaging) and made available to the EU state enforcement authorities upon request. According to the PPWR, "packaging should be placed on the market only if it complies with the sustainability and labelling requirements"; therefore, it will extend to the non-EU importers and distributors operating within the EU area.
Banning Unsustainable Packaging
Starting from 1 January 2030, the European Union will also prohibit specific types of single-use packaging: single-use plastic (SUP) packaging for grouped goods (cans, tins, pots, tubs, and packets) which encourages people to buy in bulk; SUP packaging for less than 1.5 kilograms pre-packed vegetables and fresh fruit; SUP packaging for foods and beverages consumed within the premises of catering sector (restaurants, hotels, HORECA) as well as packaging for products containing individuals portions in the HORECA sector.
Aligning Labelling Requirements to Meet EU Packaging Regulation
Various EU states have their national labelling requirements for packaging. Therefore, the PPWR aims to standardise it, including labels with information on the material composition of the packaging to facilitate consumer sorting, QR labels or similar technologies to identify SoC present in packaging material, labels on packaging reusability, and digital data about re-use and collection points. It is worth noting that the aim to standardise labelling does not prohibit member states from successfully running the national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme or Deposit Return Schemes (DRS).
Unpacking Your Success
Keeping up with regulatory changes and choosing the best strategy for your business can be daunting. Whether you manufacture and distribute goods within the European Union or import them from a non-EU country, having a trusted logistics partner can help tremendously, elevating your business to the next level.
Professionals at KATA Global Logistics are here to assist you—whether you need help understanding new regulations, shipping via ocean, air, rail, or road freight, or dealing with customs and tax compliance. We offer tailored solutions that adapt to shifting market needs, focusing on efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer satisfaction.
Contact KATA today and unpack the complex world of logistics more easily!
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