Short & easy guide to Europe's PPWR requirements by packaging type
Sustainability
Reading time: 1 minutes
Need a simple overview of the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)? Our short and practical guides break down the key requirements and give a sample readiness timelines for food, beauty, consumer goods, healthcare, and logistics packaging, helping you understand what actions to take and when.
Need a simple overview of the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)? Our short and practical guides break down the key requirements and give a sample readiness timelines for food, beauty, consumer goods, healthcare, and logistics packaging, helping you understand what actions to take and when.
The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces new requirements for almost all packaging placed on the EU market, including packaging for products imported for sale in the EU from other regions.
The regulation will be implemented in stages over the coming years, with the first requirements already taking effect. Brands, retailers and other players across the packaging value chain can start preparing now to avoid compliance challenges and unexpected costs as deadlines approach.
Some of the most significant PPWR milestones include:
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12 August 2026: Restrictions on substances in packaging, including requirements related to heavy metals and, specifically for food packaging, limitations on PFAS.
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August 2028: Requirements for harmonized labeling to help consumers know how to sort packaging waste.
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1 January 2030: Application of most of the remaining requirements, including design for recycling, packaging minimization, post-consumer recycled plastic minimums, and eco-modulated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees.
Whether you're a brand owner, co-packer, packaging buyer, or sustainability leader, PPWR readiness is likely already on your agenda.
Requirements vary depending on the packaging format, material, and intended use. For example, different obligations apply to food-contact packaging, transport packaging, and healthcare packaging.
Do you know which PPWR requirements apply to your primary, secondary, and transit packaging? Or are you looking for an easy way to share the key requirements with colleagues and stakeholders?
To help, we've created four practical PPWR guides organized by packaging type. Each guide highlights the primary requirements, sample timelines, and key considerations you need to know to start planning your compliance journey.
Short guides to PPWR
Focused by packaging type
Focused by packaging type
PPWR Short Guide for Food & Beverage Packaging
Get an overview of the key requirements and a sample readiness timeline for food-contact and beverage packaging.
PPWR Short Guide for Beauty Packaging
Get an overview for beauty packaging, including requirements for contact-sensitive and non-contact sensitive packaging.
PPWR Short Guide for Non-Food
Get an overview of the key requirements and a sample readiness timeline for most non-food packaging.
PPWR Short Guide for Healthcare Packaging
Most healthcare packaging is exempt from many of the requirements of PPWR until a reassessment by the European Commission in 2035. However, there are still changes to prepare for. Get an overview here.
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