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Sustainability

PPWR – Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

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PPWR

Be Ready on Time

2026

2027

2028

2028

2028

2030

2030

2035

2038

2040

By 12th of August 2026

  • All food-contact packaging exceeding the PFAS concentration thresholds will not be permitted on the EU market.
  • The Commission will release guidelines (implementing acts) regarding harmonised labels for packaging and waste bins to facilitate consumer sorting.

By 12th of February 2027

  • The HORECA sector shall offer a system for consumers to bring their own containers to be filled with ready-made food and/or hot and cold takeaway beverages.
  • In consultation with MS, the Commission shall publish guidelines on the types of products falling within the scope of reuse targets for packaging containing dairy products, wine and spirits.
  • The Commission will publish detailed guidelines providing clarifications on the scope of Annex V bans on certain packaging materials and uses.

By 1st of January

  • Member States (MS) shall report annual statistics for packaging placed on the market per type and material; amount of separately collected packaging waste and MS installed capacities for sorting and recycling per packaging type and material.
  • The Commission will publish Delegated Acts establishing Design for Recycling (DfR) criteria.

By 12th of February

  • The HORECA sector shall provide consumers the option to purchase ready-made food and hot and cold takeaway beverages in reusable packaging.

By 12th of August

  • All packaging except transport packaging and packaging under a deposit return scheme, but including e-commerce packaging, must carry a harmonised label informing consumers of the material composition, allowing them to sort packaging components into the correct recycling streams.

By 1st of January

  • All packaging must be designed for recycling (DfR). Packaging will be banned from the EU market if it falls under performance grade D.

 

  • Minimum recycled content targets for the plastic part in packaging (if plastic part is equal or more than 5% of the total mass).

 

  • The HORECA sector may supply a minimum of 10% reusable packaging for take-away products (aspirational target).

 

  • 10% of sales packaging for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages must be reusable.

 

  • 40% of transport packaging (as included in the exhaustive list under Article 29(1)) must be reusable. This obligation excludes cardboard boxes, food-contact packaging, as well as transport packaging for dangerous goods or large-scale machinery. Where transport packaging is used intra-business and in B2B operations within the same Member State, 100% must be reusable. The same exclusions apply in this case, and pallet wrappings and straps are additionally excluded.

 

  • 10% of grouped packaging must be reusable (excluding cardboard boxes).

 

  • Member States to reduce their packaging waste per capita by 5% against a 2018 baseline.

 

  • Maximum empty space ratio of 50% for grouped packaging, transport. Member States shall reach minimum packaging or e-commerce packaging.

 

  • Economic operators may no longer place packaging formats listed in Annex V of the PPWR on the market.

 

  • Producers’ financial contributions under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) will be modulated based on the percentage of recycled plastic content used in their packaging.

 

  • Final distributors (retailers) with a sales area of 400m2 or more must dedicate at least 10% of their space to food and non-food refill systems.

By 31st of December

  • Member States shall reach a minimum recycling target of 70% by weight of all packaging waste generated.
  • Member States shall reach a minimum recycling target of 55% of plastic, 30% of wood, 80% of ferrous metals, 60% of aluminium, 75% of glass, and 85% of paper and cardboard.

By 1st of January

  • All packaging must be recyclable at scale; this means it is collected, sorted, and recycled through installed state-of-the-art infrastructure and processes, covering at least 55% of the EU population and including exported packaging waste.
  • Member States shall reduce their packaging waste per capita by 10% against a 2018 baseline.

By 1st of January

  • Packaging shall not be placed on the EU market if falling in grade C of the DfR criteria.

By 1st of January

  • Minimum recycled content targets for the plastic part in packaging (if plastic part is equal or more than 5% of the total mass).
  • 40% of sales packaging for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages must be reusable; this excludes dairy, wines, and spirits.
  • 70% of transport packaging must be reusable – pallets, (excluding cardboard boxes, food-contact packaging or transport packaging for dangerous goods or large-scale machinery).
  • 25% of grouped packaging must be reusable (excluding cardboard boxes).
  • Member States to reduce their packaging waste per capita by 15% against a 2018 baseline.
PPWR

Get Ready for PPWR with MM

Partnering with MM to prepare for PPWR brings you the following advantages:

  • Accelerated path to PPWR compliance with clear, expert guidance
  • Lower risk and cost through evidence‑based packaging decisions
  • Faster time‑to‑market with validated, ready‑to‑run packaging solutions
  • Stronger sustainability positioning and consumer appeal
  • End‑to‑end support that reduces internal workload and complexity

The five steps below show you how to evaluate and modify your packaging portfolio so that your brand is ready when PPWR takes effect.

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Harmonised Labelling for Fibre-based Packaging