PPWR: What does the new EU packaging regulation mean for suppliers?
A brief look at the requirements on recyclability, recycled content and packaging minimisation.
The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces new rules, from packaging design through to packaging waste, for all manufacturers placing products on the European market. The Regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025; general application began on 12 August 2026.
The 2030 threshold
From 1 January 2030, all packaging must be designed for recycling. From the same date, the empty space ratio in grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging is limited to a maximum of 50%, and minimum recycled content requirements apply to plastic packaging.
Impact on packaging design
Packaging should be sized to the actual dimensions of the product; excess volume and filling material are no longer just a cost issue but a regulatory one.
Mono-material and easily separable structures are coming to the fore.
The material composition and weight of the packaging must be documentable.
For the Regulation's timeline and the details relevant to corrugated packaging, see our Sustainability and PPWR page.
