EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (“PPWR”) applies to packaging and packaging waste of all materials placed on the European market. It amends Regulation 2019/1020 and Directive 2019/904 and repeal Directive 94/62/EC. It includes requirements for packaging design, reusable packaging, and waste management. As a regulation, it applies equally and directly to all EU member states and does not require transposition into national law. The PPWR was currently revised. The European Commission (EC) presented its proposal for a revised PPWR on November 30, 2022. The European Parliament and the EU Council (member states) examined the proposal as part of the ordinary legislative procedure.

After lengthy negotiations, the EU Parliament Environment Committee agreed to its position on the PPWR at the end of October 2023. As the next step, the plenary of the Parliament voted on it on November 22, 2023. The EU Environment Council (environment ministers of the member states) added an exemption from the requirement to introduce deposit return systems for Member States with a rate of separate collection above 78% reached in 2026. With this, a provisional agreement between the EU Parliament and the EU Council could be reached on March 4. The agreement was adopted by the EU Parliament on 24 April 2024.

The PPWR is part of the activities laid out in the European Green Deal and will contribute to the EU Plastics Strategy.

According to the EU PPWR website, the revision aims to:

prevent the generation of packaging waste, reducing it in quantity, and promoting reuse and refill
ensure that all packaging on the EU market will be recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030
increase the use of recycled plastics in packaging, thus enabling more high quality (“closed loop”) recycling and substituting virgin materials

Key aspects of the PPWR:

targets for packaging waste reduction at Member State level, and mandatory reuse targets for economic operators for selected packaging groups
restricting over-packaging and certain forms of unnecessary packaging, and supporting reuse and refill systems
establishing criteria for design for recycling to be applied to all packaging
minimum inclusion rates for recycled content in plastic packaging
mandatory deposit return systems for plastic bottles and aluminum cans
harmonised labeling of packaging and waste bins to facilitate correct consumer disposal of packaging waste

Main results of the revision of the PPWR

binding reduction targets for packaging waste in the member states: 5% until 2023, 10% until 2023, 15% until 2040.
binding reusable quotas for certain types of packaging like drinking bottles and transportation, but not for take-away packaging; exemptions for cartonnage packaging
ban of certain single-use packaging for e.g. food and drinks consumed at restaurants and small packaging in the HORECA sector
ban of PFAS in food packaging (as of mid 2026)