PPWR: What Changes for Companies from 12 August 2026?
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation – PPWR) represents the most significant change to European packaging legislation in recent decades. Starting on 12 August 2026, the regulation’s first provisions will become applicable, and companies that manufacture, import, distribute or use packaging must begin preparing for the new requirements.
What is the PPWR?
The PPWR is Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste.
Its objective is to reduce the amount of waste generated by packaging and accelerate the transition to a circular economy by establishing common requirements for the design, manufacture, use and management of packaging throughout the European Union.
Unlike Directive 94/62/EC, which it replaces, the PPWR is a regulation, meaning that it applies directly in all Member States without requiring transposition into national legislation.
According to Regulation (EU) 2025/40, it applies to all packaging placed on the European Union market, regardless of the material from which it is made, as well as to all packaging waste.
The PPWR is changing how we approach packaging
The new European requirements on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) focus on the efficient use of materials and the control of packaging processes. Standardisation contributes both to operational efficiency and compliance.
Who does it apply to?
One of the most important clarifications introduced by the PPWR is that the regulation does not apply exclusively to packaging manufacturers.
Depending on the activity carried out, obligations may apply to:
• manufacturers;
• suppliers;
• importers;
• distributors;
• companies that place packaging on the market of a Member State for the first time.
In practice, the same company may simultaneously fulfil several roles for different product categories, and the obligations must be analysed separately for each of them. This aspect is highlighted both in the regulation and in the clarification documents published by the European Commission
What changes from 12 August 2026?
Although many of the PPWR objectives are set for the period from 2030 to 2040, 12 August 2026 is the date from which the regulation begins to apply generally.
The main obligations becoming relevant for manufacturers include:• carrying out a conformity assessment of packaging;
• preparing and retaining technical documentation;
• issuing the EU Declaration of Conformity;
• complying with requirements regarding manufacturer identification and traceability.
The documentation must be retained and made available to the competent authorities upon request, in accordance with the provisions of the regulation.
The European Commission states that the PPWR will be implemented in stages and that many technical requirements will become mandatory in the coming years, as delegated acts and implementing rules are adopted.
What happens up to 2040?
The PPWR will be implemented in stages.
2026 – General application of the regulation and the first compliance obligations
2030 – Requirements concerning the recyclability of packaging, minimum recycled material content in plastic packaging, the limitation of empty space in transport and e-commerce packaging, and restrictions on certain packaging formats
2035 – New requirements concerning Recycled at Scale
2040 – Final objectives concerning the reduction of packaging waste and increasing recycled material content
The implementation timetable is also presented in explanatory documents prepared by industry on the basis of the regulation, which highlight the phased nature of the obligations.
What should a company do now?
Even though not all requirements apply immediately, preparation should not be postponed.
An initial stage may include:
• taking an inventory of all packaging used;
• identifying the company’s role for each packaging category;
• checking the documentation available from suppliers;
• requesting EU Declarations of Conformity where required;
• assessing the impact of requirements that will become applicable by 2030.
In many cases, preparing for the PPWR also represents an opportunity to optimise packaging, reduce material consumption and improve logistics processes.
How can INATECH Packaging support you?
At INATECH Packaging, we monitor developments in the European legislative framework and collaborate with manufacturers and suppliers to provide customers with packaging solutions and the available information regarding the compliance of marketed products.
As the European Commission publishes new delegated acts and application guidelines, we will continue to present relevant information and practical examples for companies that wish to prepare in advance.
