Summary
What does the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) require? It applies from 12 August 2026 to every business placing packaging on the EU market, including non-EU companies, and phases in new rules: substance limits including PFAS in food contact packaging from 2026, harmonised labelling from 12 August 2028, and packaging minimisation, recyclability by design and recycled content targets from 1 January 2030. Manufacturers must show compliance through conformity assessment. First action: inventory every packaging format you sell in the EU and flag PFAS, labelling and recyclability gaps.
Not legal advice. This article is general information for businesses, based on official sources checked in October 2026. Laws, thresholds and deadlines change, and how they apply depends on your company’s facts. Check the current text of each law or ask a qualified lawyer before you act.
Walk down any supermarket aisle and count the layers. A pouch inside a box inside a film. The new EU rules take aim at exactly that kind of design, one format at a time.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) replaces a directive with a directly applicable regulation, so the same rules apply in every Member State. This guide covers the timeline, the main duties and the comparison with the UK, the US and Canada (see EUROPEN’s quick guide to the PPWR).
What Is the PPWR Timeline?
| Date | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 12 August 2026 | Regulation applies; new substance requirements, including PFAS limits in food contact packaging |
| 12 February 2028 | Requirements for certain compostable packaging formats |
| 12 August 2028 | Harmonised packaging labelling |
| 12 February 2029 | Reusable packaging labelling |
| 1 January 2030 | Packaging minimisation, recyclability by design, minimum recycled content in plastic packaging |
| 1 January 2035 | Packaging recyclable at scale |
| 1 January 2040 | Higher reuse and recycled content targets and new restrictions |
Who Must Comply?
Manufacturers, importers, distributors and online sellers that place packaging on the EU market must comply, including companies established outside the EU. Manufacturers must complete a conformity assessment before placing packaging on the market. Check each Member State’s producer responsibility registration, and in Germany remember the existing packaging register (LUCID) run by the Central Agency Packaging Register.
How Do You Prepare?
- Inventory: List every packaging unit, material and supplier by market
- Test substances: Ask suppliers for PFAS declarations on food contact items
- Redesign for recycling: Remove hard-to-sort layers and mixed materials before 2030
- Plan recycled content: Secure certified recycled plastic supply early
- Update labels: Prepare for harmonised labelling from August 2028
- Keep claims honest: “Recyclable” and “eco-friendly” claims face the EU rules on green claims from September 27, 2026
Our guide to ESG non-compliance penalties shows how packaging breaches can add to green-claim risk.
How Do the UK, US and Canada Compare?
| Market | Main packaging rules |
|---|---|
| Germany (EU) | PPWR from 12 August 2026 plus the national packaging register |
| UK | Extended producer responsibility for packaging with producer fees, and the Plastic Packaging Tax |
| US | State-level producer responsibility laws, for example in California, Oregon and Colorado |
| Canada | Provincial producer responsibility programmes, for example in Ontario and British Columbia |
Packaging Compliance Checklist (2026)
- [ ] Packaging inventory by market complete
- [ ] PFAS declarations collected for food contact packaging
- [ ] Conformity assessment documented
- [ ] 2030 recyclability redesign plan agreed
- [ ] Producer responsibility registrations current in each country
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the PPWR apply?
From 12 August 2026, with later milestones through 2040.
Does it apply to non-EU companies?
Yes, to any business placing packaging on the EU market.
What does it say about PFAS?
New substance requirements, including PFAS limits in food contact packaging, apply from 12 August 2026. Check the regulation text for the exact thresholds.
When are recycled content targets due?
Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging applies from 1 January 2030.