PPWR 01 - Intro

2026.07.28 - 10:00

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

On 12 August 2026, the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) begins to apply across all Member States. Although many of its requirements will be introduced gradually between 2026 and 2030, companies should start preparing now. In this series, Plastinfo explains PPWR in clear, practical business language, focusing on what companies need to know and how they can prepare for the upcoming changes.

12 August 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter for packaging in Europe. If your company manufactures, imports, distributes or places packaged products on the European market, 12 August 2026 is an important date.

From that day, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) starts to apply throughout the European Union, introducing a new regulatory framework for the design, use, reuse and recycling of packaging.

Not every obligation becomes applicable immediately. Many requirements will be phased in over the coming years. However, companies should begin assessing their packaging portfolio, internal processes and supplier relationships without delay.

Why does PPWR matter

PPWR has become one of the most discussed topics within the European packaging industry. Yet many companies are still asking the same practical questions:
• Does PPWR apply to my business?
• Which obligations will affect my company?
• When do the new requirements become applicable?
• What should I start preparing today?

This series has been created to answer these questions in a practical way, without complex legal language or lengthy legislative interpretations.

Who should follow this series

This series is intended for companies involved in the packaging value chain, including:
• Packaging manufacturers
• Plastic converters
• Food and beverage producers
• Importers and distributors
• Retailers
• Recycling companies
• Waste management operators
• Any business placing packaged products on the EU market

If your business falls into any of these categories, this series will help you understand what lies ahead and how to prepare.

What comes next

In the following articles, we will examine the main PPWR requirements step by step, explaining their practical impact on different categories of economic operators.

Rather than analysing the Regulation article by article, we will focus on what matters most for businesses and on the practical actions companies can take to prepare.

The next article in this series will help you determine whether PPWR applies to your business and identify the first areas you should review before the new regulatory framework takes full effect.

Source

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR).