Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) – how it matters to businesses

by Alicja Szyrner

13 February 2025

Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) was published on 22 January 2025. It introduces far-reaching changes for businesses that manufacture, sell and use packaging in their trade. The challenges ahead.

Certain single-use plastics will be prohibited from 1 January 2030, including packaging for unprocessed fruit, vegetables, take-away food and beverages and miniature toiletries in hotels.

Furthermore, after that date, all packaging will have to be recyclable and any new packaging will have to contain more recycled materials, i.e.:

30% for contact-sensitive packaging made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the major component;
10% for contact-sensitive packaging made from plastic materials other than PET;
30% for single-use plastic beverage bottles;
35% for plastic packaging other than those referred to above.

You should also pay attention to:

the packaging minimisation obligation, i.e. to ensure that weight and volume of the packaging is reduced to the necessary minimum;
restriction on the use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in food-contact packaging.

Packaging manufacturers will also have to place harmonised labels containing information on its material composition. The labels will have to include pictograms and be easy to understand by an average consumer.

The PPWR enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, and will become applicable 18 months after its entry into force.

Do you have questions about the upcoming changes? Contact our experts.

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Alicja Szyrner

Attorney at law (Poland)

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