01756 794 951 Contact Portal

EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) comes into effect

After two years of going through the European Union (EU) legislative procedure, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has been formally adopted and came into effect on 11th February 2025.

The PPWR repeals the former Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC) that was originally introduced in 1994, and sets requirements relating to the composition of packaging, and its reusable and recoverable nature. The aim of the initiative is to prevent the generation of packaging waste, ensure the reuse and recycling of packaging, boost the uptake of recycled content, and improve the enforceability of the regime.

Review of the existing Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) was reviewed in 2022, and it found that 23 EU Member States had not transposed the 2018 amendment in the 2-year period, and 20 Member States were at risk of not reaching recycling targets set within the Directive. The review also found divergences between Member States with their packaging and packaging waste regime, which could result in producers facing contradictory incentives for the same packaging, which in turn creates uncertainty, increased administration, and barriers to the free flow of goods across the EU market.

An impact assessment was carried out too, which found that despite the PPWD, across the EU there is growing packaging waste generation; barriers to recycling and reuse of packaging; unclear labelling for sorting; and low recycling quality of plastic packaging.

Bringing in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

The PPWR was proposed in the form of a regulation instead of a directive, as regulations are binging in their entirety and directly applicable to Member States. This will ensure that all EU Member States fulfil their obligations in the same way at the same time.

The regulation was first proposed in 2022 and has been reviewed, amended and agreed on by the European Parliament and Council through the EU ordinary legislative procedure. Once both institutions agreed on the final text, it was formally adopted and came into force.

Please see a high-level timeline below:

  • November 2022: Regulation was first proposed by the European Commission
  • November 2022 to November 2024: Ordinary legislative procedure with the European Parliament and Council
  • November 2024: European Parliament adopted PPWR
  • December 2024: European Council adopted PPWR
  • January 2025: PPWR published in the Official Journal of the EU, marking its adoption
  • February 2025: PPWR came into effect
  • August 2026: PPWR is applicable in EU Member States and becomes enforceable, 18 months after entry into effect
Key measures contained in the PPWR

Some of the key measures contained within the PPWR are:

  • Design for recyclability: 100% of packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable by 2030.
  • Recycling targets: Recycling targets of 65% by weight of all packaging waste generated is recycled by the end of 2025, which increases to 70% by the end of 2030. There are recycling targets per packaging material too, contained in Article 52.
  • Reuse targets: Packaging reuse targets for 2030 and indicative targets for 2040, which depend on the type of packaging. For example, for 2030, 10% of grouped packaging must be reusable, with 40% for transport packaging. These targets are contained in Article 29.
  • Plastic recycled content: Compulsory minimum recycled content in plastic packaging by 2030, with rates of 30% for PET; 10% for contact-sensitive packaging other than PET & drinks containers; 30% for single use plastic drinks containers; and 35% for any other plastic packaging. Increased targets will be introduced for 2040. These targets are contained in Article 7.
  • Harmonised recyclability label: Introduction of a harmonised packaging label to facilitate separation of packaging waste at the source by consumers and to inform them on recyclability.
  • Restrictions for substances of concern: Restrictions on food-contact packaging containing per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) substances that exceed certain thresholds, which pose risk to human health and the environment. These thresholds are contained in Article 5.
Next steps

The PPWR becomes applicable in EU Member States in August 2026, and at that point will become enforceable. Over the remainder of 2025 and 2026, the EU and Member States will be working on mobilising the scheme and their enforcement systems. Producers and economic operators that operate in or supply packaging to the EU have legal obligations which they need to prepare for over this time, in line with the key measures set out above and other obligations outlined in the final text.

You can access the final text here: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC (Text with EEA relevance)

Beyondly support

Beyondly are here to support businesses with their international compliance obligations. Please get in touch with our team at solutions@beyond.ly to enquire about the support and services we offer to businesses with international compliance obligations.

Date published: 18th February 2025