EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

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.

This card focuses on the specific operational practice for the "per capita packaging waste reduction targets at Member State level," the "ban on single-use plastic packaging for specific uses," and the "deposit return system (DRS) for single-use beverage containers" under Article 43 and Annex V, among other provisions, of the PPWR. Each Member State is legally required to reduce per capita packaging waste generation, compared with 2018 levels, by 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040. In addition, the packaging listed in Annex V — including single-use plastic portion packaging for condiments, sugar, and creamer in the HORECA (hotel, restaurant, café) sector, single-use plastic packaging for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables under 1.5 kg, single-use plastic grouped packaging such as shrink wrap that bundles multiple products, and single-use packaging (of any material) for cosmetics, hygiene and toiletry products for individual bookings in the accommodation sector — may not be placed on the EU market from January 1, 2030 (Article 25(1)). Member States must further ensure the separate collection of at least 90% of single-use plastic and metal beverage containers of 3 litres or less by January 1, 2029, and set up deposit return systems to that end (Article 50(1) and (2)). Member States with a separate collection rate of 80% or more in 2026 that apply for exemption and submit an implementation plan by January 1, 2028 may be exempted from that obligation (Article 50(5)).

This card focuses on the specific operational practice for the "recyclability performance grading system (Grades A–C)," the "recycled content obligation for plastic packaging," and the "reuse targets for the beverage, transport, and HORECA sectors" under Articles 6, 7, and 29 of the PPWR. From January 1, 2030 (or 24 months after the delegated acts setting the recyclability criteria enter into force, whichever is later), all packaging placed on the EU market will be required to meet "Design for Recycling" criteria and fall within recyclability performance grades A, B or C established by the European Commission (Article 6(3); from 2038, only grades A or B). From January 1, 2035 (or five years after the implementing acts on the recycled-at-scale assessment enter into force, whichever is later), an additional "recycled at scale" criterion applies, under which packaging must not only be theoretically recyclable but must actually be processed in significant quantities through the EU's separate collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure. For plastic packaging, a post-consumer recycled content obligation applies from January 1, 2030 (or three years after the implementing act on the calculation method enters into force, whichever is later): 30% for contact-sensitive PET packaging other than single-use plastic beverage bottles, 10% for contact-sensitive packaging made from other plastics, 30% for single-use plastic beverage bottles and 35% for other plastic packaging, rising in 2040 to 50%, 25%, 65% and 65% respectively (Article 7). On reuse, from January 1, 2030, final distributors selling beverages to consumers must make at least 10% of those products available in reusable packaging within a re-use system, and economic operators using transport packaging must ensure that at least 40% of it is reusable packaging within a re-use system; for 2040, the regulation sets endeavour targets of 40% and 70% respectively (Article 29).