EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) Packaging Minimisation Standards, Empty Space Ratio Limits, and Prohibition of Excessive Packaging
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
In force since February 11, 2025 (the minimisation obligation applies from January 1, 2030; the empty space ratio limit applies from January 1, 2030 or three years after the implementing acts enter into force, whichever is later)
Overview
This card focuses on the specific operational practice for the "packaging weight and volume minimisation obligation," the "empty space (void) ratio limit," and the "prohibition of excessive packaging" under Article 10 (packaging minimisation) and Article 24 (obligation related to excessive packaging) of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40, PPWR).
By January 1, 2030, manufacturers and importers must ensure that packaging placed on the EU market is designed so that its weight and volume are reduced to the minimum necessary to ensure its functionality (Article 10(1)). Design techniques that artificially inflate volume — such as double walls, false bottoms, and unnecessary additional layers — are in principle prohibited. Economic operators who fill grouped, transport or e-commerce packaging must ensure a maximum empty space ratio of 50%, from January 1, 2030 or three years after the implementing acts setting the calculation method enter into force, whichever is later (Article 24(1); those acts are due by February 12, 2028). European standardisation bodies will subsequently establish specific numerical thresholds for weight, volume, and material thickness by packaging format and material category.
Enforcement Timeline
February 11, 2025: The PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40) enters into force.
August 12, 2026: The PPWR applies.
January 1, 2030: The packaging minimisation obligation (Article 10(1)) applies, and the 50% maximum empty space ratio for grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging (Article 24(1)) applies from this date or three years after the implementing acts enter into force, whichever is later.
Going forward: European standardisation bodies will progressively establish and publish harmonised numerical standards for weight, volume, and material thickness by packaging format.
Business Impact
Packaging designers, e-commerce businesses, and fulfillment operators will need to shift to right-sized packaging matched to the dimensions of the contents, optimise the amount of cushioning material used, and eliminate volume-inflating design elements such as double walls and false bottoms. Logistics operators handling cross-border e-commerce in particular will need to build internal processes and recordkeeping capable of demonstrating compliance with the 50% maximum empty space ratio (Article 24).
Non-compliance can result in sales suspension or corrective orders within the EU, so packaging design departments need to maintain an EU Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation for each packaging format, clearly documenting the basis for compliance with the minimisation standards. Companies will also need to build a system for continuously monitoring and updating design standards in line with the harmonised standards that European standardisation bodies will publish going forward.