PPWR — Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
Governs the entire life cycle of packaging: substances, design for recycling, recycled content, minimisation, reuse, labelling and EPR. As a regulation it applies directly in all Member States and introduces the EU declaration of conformity and technical documentation for every item of packaging placed on the market.
At a glance
- Legal reference
- Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, repealing Directive 94/62/EC
- Jurisdiction
- European Union
- Area
- Packaging and circular economy
- Status
- Phased application
- Last reviewed
- Official text
- EUR-Lex · Regulation (EU) 2025/40 ↗
Every date for PPWR — Packaging
- Entry into force of the regulation
- General application: EU declaration of conformity, PFAS limits in food-contact packaging, heavy metals below 100 mg/kg, new obligations for producers
- HORECA takeaway: obligation to offer customers a reusable alternative in 475 days
- Harmonised EU material label for separate collection in 657 days
- Mandatory deposit return scheme for single-use plastic bottles and cans up to 3 litres in 799 days
- All packaging recyclable (grades A–C), minimum recycled content, maximum empty space of 50%, bans on single-use formats (Annex V), reuse targets, waste −5% in 1164 days
- Recyclability "at scale" and a 10% reduction in packaging waste in 2990 days
- Recyclability grade C is also banned from the market in 4086 days
- Recycled content of 50–65% in plastic, extended reuse, waste −15% in 4816 days
Packaging manufacturers, producers and "packers", importers, distributors, e-commerce and HORECA. No general exemption for SMEs; some derogations for micro-enterprises.
How we helpSustainability & Environmental Transition →- 01Inventory all packaging (primary, secondary, tertiary) with materials, weights and suppliers
- 02Obtain declarations on PFAS and heavy metals from suppliers by August 2026
- 03Prepare an EU declaration of conformity and technical file for each item of packaging
- 04Redesign packaging for recyclability, recycled content and empty space ahead of 2030
- 05Assess reuse systems for transport and B2B packaging and check the banned single-use formats
Frequently asked questions on PPWR — Packaging
Governs the entire life cycle of packaging: substances, design for recycling, recycled content, minimisation, reuse, labelling and EPR. As a regulation it applies directly in all Member States and introduces the EU declaration of conformity and technical documentation for every item of packaging placed on the market.
Packaging manufacturers, producers and "packers", importers, distributors, e-commerce and HORECA. No general exemption for SMEs; some derogations for micro-enterprises.
11 Feb 2025: Entry into force of the regulation; 12 Aug 2026: General application: EU declaration of conformity, PFAS limits in food-contact packaging, heavy metals below 100 mg/kg, new obligations for producers; 12 Feb 2028: HORECA takeaway: obligation to offer customers a reusable alternative; 12 Aug 2028: Harmonised EU material label for separate collection; 1 Jan 2029: Mandatory deposit return scheme for single-use plastic bottles and cans up to 3 litres; 1 Jan 2030: All packaging recyclable (grades A–C), minimum recycled content, maximum empty space of 50%, bans on single-use formats (Annex V), reuse targets, waste −5%; 1 Jan 2035: Recyclability "at scale" and a 10% reduction in packaging waste; 1 Jan 2038: Recyclability grade C is also banned from the market; 1 Jan 2040: Recycled content of 50–65% in plastic, extended reuse, waste −15%.
The next milestone is 12 Feb 2028: HORECA takeaway: obligation to offer customers a reusable alternative.
Inventory all packaging (primary, secondary, tertiary) with materials, weights and suppliers; Obtain declarations on PFAS and heavy metals from suppliers by August 2026; Prepare an EU declaration of conformity and technical file for each item of packaging; Redesign packaging for recyclability, recycled content and empty space ahead of 2030; Assess reuse systems for transport and B2B packaging and check the banned single-use formats.
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