New EU packaging rules will apply from August 2026

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste, known by the abbreviation PPWR, entered into force on 11 February 2025. However, most of its provisions will generally apply from 12 August 2026. The Regulation will gradually replace the existing Directive 94/62/EC and harmonise packaging rules across the EU internal market.

PPWR applies to all packaging and packaging waste, regardless of the material used or its origin. It covers plastic, paper, metal, glass, wooden and composite packaging and sets requirements for their composition, manufacture, minimisation, recyclability, reuse and waste management.

PFAS in Food Packaging to Be Restricted from August

One of the specific requirements that will apply directly from 12 August 2026 is the restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – PFAS – in packaging intended to come into contact with food.

Such packaging may not be placed on the EU market if its PFAS content reaches or exceeds the limit values set by the Regulation. PPWR sets a limit of 25 ppb for individual PFAS measured by targeted analysis, 250 ppb for the sum of the PFAS analysed and 50 ppm for total PFAS content, including polymeric PFAS.

The restriction may affect, for example, materials and surface treatments used to ensure packaging resistance to grease, oils or moisture. Manufacturers and suppliers of food packaging should therefore check the composition of materials, the additives and coatings used, and documentation from their suppliers in good time.

Companies Will Have to Demonstrate Packaging Conformity

From the start of the general application of PPWR, manufacturers will only be able to place packaging on the market if it meets the relevant requirements of the Regulation. The system will include conformity assessment, technical documentation and an EU declaration of conformity according to the scope of the requirements applicable to the specific packaging.

Businesses should therefore determine their role in the supply chain – whether they are a packaging manufacturer, importer, distributor or manufacturer of a packaged product – and set up documentation checks, communication with suppliers and internal processes accordingly.

According to guidance from the European Commission, packaging that was duly placed on the EU market before 12 August 2026 does not have to be withdrawn from the market solely because the new Regulation has begun to apply. The decisive factor is the date on which it was first placed on the market.

Recyclability and Recycled Content Will Come Later

The date of 12 August 2026 does not mean that all the new PPWR targets will apply from that day. Several significant obligations have their own transition periods.

Requirements for packaging recyclability, minimum recycled plastic content, restrictions on certain single-use packaging formats and reuse targets will be introduced gradually, with several key measures taking effect from 2030. The EU's aim is for all packaging placed on the European market to be recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030.

Companies operating in the packaging and plastics industries should therefore view PPWR as a gradual process. The first step should be to review their packaging portfolio, material composition, supplier documentation and the obligations that will apply to the specific business from August 2026.

Source: European Commission, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste