PPWR at a glance: 15 most frequently asked questions and answers

The PPWR FAQ is a quick reference guide for businesses wishing to understand the new EU packaging regulations without having to read the entire regulation from the first to the last article. The PPWR, or Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, is EU Regulation 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste. It entered into force on 11 February 2025 and will generally apply from 12 August 2026. The European Commission states that the PPWR covers all packaging and packaging waste, regardless of material or origin.

For businesses, this means changes to packaging design, recyclability, labelling, recycled content, e-commerce packaging, reuse schemes, BDO, EPR and cross-border sales. Below you will find the 15 most frequently asked questions about the PPWR, along with practical answers.

1. What is PPWR?

The PPWR is an EU regulation on packaging and packaging waste. Its full title is the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, i.e. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The PPWR replaces the existing Packaging Directive and introduces more uniform rules for companies operating in the EU market. The European Commission points out that the regulation covers the entire life cycle of packaging: from design and composition, through reuse, to recovery and waste management.

In practice, the PPWR answers the question: What types of packaging can be placed on the EU market, and what conditions must they meet in order to reduce packaging waste?

2. Since when has the PPWR been in force?

The PPWR came into force on 11 February 2025 and will, in principle, come into effect on 12 August 2026. However, this does not mean that all the obligations will come into force on the same day.

Some of the requirements will be implemented in stages. The European Commission has set 12 August 2026 as the general date for the application of the provisions, whilst subsequent obligations — relating, amongst other things, to recyclability, labelling, recycled content and reuse — have their own transition periods.

For businesses, the most important thing is not to wait until the last minute. Packaging audits, gathering data from suppliers, testing materials and changing labels can take many months.

3. Who is covered by the PPWR?

The PPWR applies to companies that place on the market, manufacture, import, distribute, package or sell packaged products within the EU.

In practice, the regulations may apply to:

– manufacturers of goods,
– packaging manufacturers,
– importers,
– distributors,
– owners of own-brand products,
– online shops,
– logistics companies,
– retail chains,
– the catering and HoReCa sectors,
– companies exporting to the EU.

In its guide for exporters, the UK government states that the PPWR applies to all companies placing packaging on the EU market, including manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers, as well as all types of packaging: primary, groupage, transport and service packaging.

4. Does the PPWR apply only to plastic?

No. The PPWR applies to all packaging, not just plastic. This includes packaging made of plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, metal, wood and multi-material packaging.

Plastic is an important area covered by the PPWR, as the regulation introduces, amongst other things, minimum levels of recycled content in plastic packaging. This does not, however, mean that cardboard, paper, glass or metal fall outside the scope of the regulations. The European Commission explicitly states that the PPWR covers all packaging and packaging waste, regardless of material or origin.

This is important because a common mistake made by companies is to automatically switch from plastic to paper without analysing recyclability, coatings, adhesives, barriers and the weight of the packaging.

5. What is the main aim of the PPWR?

The main aim of the PPWR is to reduce packaging waste and improve packaging design across the EU.

The European Commission states that the PPWR is intended to reduce the amount of packaging and waste, limit the use of virgin raw materials and promote the circular economy. Among other things, the regulation is intended to ensure that all packaging on the EU market is recyclable in an economically viable manner by 2030.

In practice, the PPWR is intended to ensure that packaging is:

– less excessive,
– easier to recycle,
– better signposted,
– safer from a chemical point of view,
– more often reusable,
– better suited to collection and recycling schemes.

6. Does all packaging have to be recyclable?

Yes, in line with the PPWR’s objective, all packaging on the EU market is to be recyclable by 2030.

The European Commission explains that packaging should be designed so that all its components can be reused as valuable material, rather than being incinerated or sent to landfill.

For businesses, this means they must assess the entire packaging unit, not just the main material. The following factors are also important:

– labels,
– adhesives,
– prints,
– colourings,
– closures,
– coatings,
– films,
– laminates,
– multi-material components.

If the packaging looks eco-friendly but contains difficult-to-remove coatings or permanent bonds between materials, it may still pose a problem from a PPWR perspective.

7. What is Design for Recycling at PPWR?

‘Design for Recycling’ means designing packaging so that it can be effectively sorted and recycled.

It is not just about the word „recyclable” on the label. Packaging should be designed so that, after use, it can be channelled into the correct waste stream and processed into secondary raw materials of the appropriate quality.

Design for Recycling includes, amongst other things:

– selection of the main material,
– limiting the number of materials,
– avoiding problematic adhesives and labels,
– designing closures and sleeves for sorting,
– limiting the use of dark colourings,
– the elimination of difficult laminates,
– maintaining the protective function of the packaging.

Companies using composite packaging should take particular care to check multi-material packaging, because that is where the conflict between protective function and recyclability most often arises.

8. Does PPWR require recycled material in packaging?

Yes, the PPWR sets out minimum levels of recycled content in plastic packaging.

The European Commission states that the PPWR is intended to safely increase the use of recycled plastics in packaging, and that plastic packaging is to contain recycled content in line with the increasing targets for 2030 and 2040.

This is particularly important for companies that use:

– PET bottles,
– plastic containers,
– trays,
– films,
– contact packaging,
– plastic e-commerce packaging,
– plastic transport packaging.

In the food and cosmetics industries, it is important to bear in mind that recycled material must not compromise product safety. Packaging that comes into contact with food, cosmetics or other sensitive products must continue to meet the relevant requirements for such contact.

9. Will the PPWR ban certain types of packaging?

Yes, from 2030, the PPWR provides for bans on certain types of single-use packaging, but this does not mean a ban on all single-use packaging.

The European Commission states that, by 2030, certain types of single-use packaging deemed unnecessary, or for which more sustainable alternatives are available, will be banned. It cites small sachets of ketchup in restaurants and miniature bottles of shampoo in hotels as examples. At the same time, single-use packaging that is essential for food safety, public health or medical purposes will still be permitted.

For businesses, this means they must check whether the packaging formats they use are classified as high-risk, particularly in the HoReCa sector, the hotel industry, the retail sector and the sale of fresh produce.

10. How will the PPWR affect e-commerce?

PPWR will ensure that empty space is minimised and that shipping packaging is better tailored to the products.

The European Commission points out that online retailers will have to minimise empty space in delivery boxes, which means smaller boxes, less waste and fewer „half-empty” parcels being transported.

In practice, an e-commerce business should check:

– shipping boxes,
– courier envelopes,
– fillers,
– films,
– tapes,
– courier labels,
– returnable packaging,
– data from BDO and EPR,
– exports.

An online shop should not limit its analysis to the product packaging alone. The PPWR also applies to the shipping packaging and the way the order is packed. A good place to start is e-commerce audit and analysis Packaging in e-commerce: BDO and LUCID.

11. Will PPWR change the labelling on its packaging?

Yes. The PPWR is intended to lead to more transparent and standardised labelling of packaging across the EU.

The European Commission points out that the new labels are intended to make it easier to sort waste, to show what the packaging is made of, where it should be disposed of, and how it can be returned for reuse.

For businesses, this means they need to check:

– packaging material,
– sorting instructions,
– recycling symbols,
– pictograms,
– QR codes or digital data storage media,
– environmental declarations,
– labels in several languages for overseas sales.

The problem is that companies often want to „add a recycling symbol” without checking whether the packaging is actually recyclable and whether the sorting instructions are correct.

12. Does the PPWR apply to reusable packaging?

Yes. The PPWR emphasises the importance of reusable packaging, refills and reuse schemes.

The European Commission states that reusable packaging must be suitable for repeated use, emptying, cleaning and refilling, whilst at the same time meeting health, safety and hygiene requirements.

This is particularly important for:

– B2B logistics,
– pallets and crates,
– deposit schemes,
– HoReCa,
– transport packaging,
– returnable packaging,
– refill models.

Sturdier packaging alone is not enough. The company must have a system in place for returns, cleaning, inspection, repairs, reuse and tracking of stock rotation.

13. Is the PPWR linked to the deposit scheme?

Yes. PPWR supports deposit-refund schemes as a means of increasing the selective collection of beverage packaging.

The European Commission states that Member States must achieve a minimum of 90% in the selective collection of single-use plastic and metal beverage containers by 2029; if this cannot be achieved by other means, Member States must establish deposit-refund schemes.

For beverage manufacturers, importers, brand owners and retailers, this means they must integrate the PPWR with national deposit schemes, labelling, record-keeping, deposit settlement and packaging data.

14. Does PPWR replace BDO, ROP, EPR or LUCID?

No. PPWR does not replace BDO, ROP, EPR or LUCID. This is an EU regulation that operates in parallel with national producer responsibility and reporting schemes.

The company still needs to check:

– BDO in Poland,
– ROP and packaging charges,
– EPR in the countries where the product is sold,
– LUCID when selling to Germany,
– the obligations of importers and e-commerce businesses,
– information on the weights and materials of packaging.

The UK Government’s guide for businesses exporting to the EU states that, in addition to complying with the PPWR, businesses must take into account national EPR rules, including registration, reporting data on the type, weight, recyclability and recycled content of packaging.

For companies selling outside Poland, a good solution is to combine a PPWR audit with compliance with packaging obligations in EU markets i LUCID audit.

15. How do you go about implementing the PPWR within a company?

It is best to start with a packaging audit and a risk map. The company should determine what types of packaging it uses, what they are made of, how much they weigh, who supplies them and in which markets they are used.

Getting started:

1. Make a list of individual, bulk, transport and dispatch packaging.
2. Gather information on the material, weight and components.
3. Take a look at our multi-material and plastic packaging.
4. Assess recyclability and the potential for weight reduction.
5. Check the labelling and environmental declarations.
6. Check out BDO, EPR, LUCID and the sales markets.
7. Identify which packaging designs need to be redesigned.
8. Introduce a procedure for approving new packaging.

The British guide for exporters lists, amongst other things, the assessment of packaging in accordance with PPWR criteria and national EPR guidelines, registration with the relevant schemes, data reporting and record-keeping as control measures.

In practice, the safest first step is PPWR audit, which can be combined with environmental audit i comprehensive environmental consultancy.

Quick table: PPWR in 15 answers

Question	The short answer
What is PPWR?	EU Regulation on packaging and packaging waste
Since when has it been in force?	It came into force on 11 February 2025, with application generally from 12 August 2026.
Who is this for?	Companies that market, manufacture, import, distribute or sell packaged products
Does this apply only to plastic?	No, it covers all packaging materials
What is the aim?	Less waste, greater recyclability, more reuse and recycled materials
Does packaging have to be recyclable?	Yes, the aim is for all packaging to be recyclable by 2030.
What is Design for Recycling?	Designing packaging for effective sorting and recycling
Will recycled material be required?	Yes, particularly in plastic packaging
Will there be any bans?	Yes, for certain redundant formats from 2030 onwards.
What about e-commerce?	We need to minimise empty space and choose our parcels more carefully
Will the labels change?	Yes, the signage is to be clearer and more standardised
What about reusable packaging?	PPWR is promoting reuse, refill and recycling schemes
What about the deposit scheme?	PPWR supports DRS and the targets for the collection of beverage packaging
Does PPWR replace BDO/EPR/LUCID?	No, these responsibilities still need to be analysed
How do I get started?	From the audit of packaging, data, risks and the implementation plan

The most common mistake: interpreting the PPWR as a single obligation

The biggest mistake is to treat PPWR as a single task: „change the packaging”, „add a recycling symbol” or „replace plastic with paper”. PPWR operates on a broader scale. It requires the integration of packaging design, data, recyclability, labelling, BDO, EPR, suppliers and sales markets.

A company should view PPWR as a packaging management system. This makes it easier to avoid costly corrections, haphazard changes to materials and incorrect environmental declarations.

Do you have an unusual question about PPWR?

Not every question about PPWR has a straightforward answer in the FAQs. The situation is different for a food manufacturer, an online shop, an importer, a private label brand, a company selling to Germany, or a business using B2B transport packaging.

Do you have an unusual question about the regulations? Make use of direct technical consultancy from Eko-Pro, check PPWR audit or go to the tab Contact Eko-Pro and describe your packaging, sales markets and your main concerns