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Effective from February 11th, 2025! EU releases Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR)
Time：
2025-02-14
The EU will release the PPWR regulation in 2025, banning disposable plastic packaging from 2030, requiring packaging sustainability, limiting PFAS, and increasing recycling rates. Enterprises need to adjust their packaging practices to ensure compliance, promote the use of environmentally friendly packaging, reduce plastic and waste, and promote a circular economy.
The European Parliament and Council passed the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) on December 19, 2024, which was officially released on January 22, 2025 and came into effect on February 11, 2025. The new regulations will comprehensively prohibit the use of PFAS in food contact materials and set strict standards for the content of recycled materials in packaging materials.
Main content of PPWR
Starting from January 1, 2030, the use of specific types of disposable plastic packaging is prohibited, including packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables, food and beverage packaging in restaurants, single serving condiments (such as condiments, sauces, cream, sugar), specialized micro packaging for toiletries, and very light plastic tote bags (with a wall thickness of less than 15 microns);
To avoid any impact on health, the agreement also prohibits the use of "permanent chemicals" (perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS) exceeding a certain threshold in food contact packaging;
Terminal retailers of beverages and takeaway food will be required to provide consumers with the option of bringing their own containers, with a requirement to provide no less than 10% of products in reusable packaging by 2030;
According to PPWR regulations, all packaging except for lightweight wood, cork, textiles, rubber, ceramics, porcelain, and wax must be recycled and reused according to strict standards;
The regulations also set minimum recycling targets for plastic packaging and packaging waste weight: by 2029, 90% of disposable plastic and metal beverage containers (up to 3 liters) will need to be collected separately.
Does it affect the seller?
PPWR has an impact on all parties involved in packaging production and distribution, especially online retail, as transportation packaging is an important component of the business model. In the future, they will have to fundamentally adjust their packaging practice strategies. Mainly reflected in:
① According to regulations, it is not allowed to use oversized boxes to store small items. Therefore, the product packaging should not be too large to avoid duplicate packaging designs;
② Transport packaging must have a high recyclability rate (such as paper, cardboard). Plastic packaging must meet certain recycling standards, otherwise it may be necessary to replace the materials used;
③ Sellers may be required to provide reusable packaging;
④ Sellers must provide more detailed records of the packaging materials used to demonstrate compliance with circular economy regulations;
⑤ Due to its applicability to all EU countries, PPWR has replaced many different national laws and ended legal fragmentation. However, it should be noted that if you sell your product to a destination country in the European Union, in addition to complying with PPWR, you also need to comply with other relevant regulations and rules of the destination country, such as LUCID.
The EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) will officially come into effect in February 2025, and after its implementation, companies will be given an 18 month transition period (starting from August 12, 2026, when the new EU packaging regulation will be fully implemented). During this period, companies need to take a series of proactive and effective actions to ensure that their operations comply with the new regulations.
Main changes and new requirements
Packaging Design and Production Requirements
All packaging must meet sustainability requirements and increase the use of recycled materials (especially plastics) in packaging. Limit the presence of certain heavy metals and harmful substances (such as PFAS) in packaging materials, encourage reduced design, require the maximum reduction of packaging weight and volume, and eliminate unnecessary packaging waste.
Waste management measures
Improve the reuse rate and high-quality recycling rate of packaging, and reduce the use of disposable packaging. Reduce landfill disposal of packaging waste and prioritize recycling methods.
Responsibility and Industry Obligations
Clarify the responsibilities and obligations of all relevant parties in the packaging management process, standardize packaging management and waste disposal, and promote responsibility sharing and information transparency. For example, for operators, it is required to restrict excessive packaging, limit specific packaging forms, promote reusable packaging, establish a reuse system, and set reuse goals. Emphasize that the food delivery and catering industry also needs to comply with relevant environmental packaging requirements.
Reuse and recycling targets
By 2030, achieve all packaging that is reusable or recyclable. Reduce excessive packaging, optimize packaging design to simplify material structure and improve recycling efficiency.
Labeling, Marking, and Information Requirements
The packaging should clearly indicate the material composition to facilitate the classification and disposal of packaging waste by consumers. For reusable packaging, its reusability must be identified, and the location of the collection point and related instructions must be provided to the user through a QR code. Compostable packaging should clearly indicate its compostable characteristics.
Regulatory impact and significance
Promote the transformation and upgrading of the packaging industry, and advance the research and development as well as the use of environmentally friendly packaging. Reduce the amount of packaging waste generated and lower the proportion of urban solid waste pollution. Reduce excessive packaging and improve packaging environmental friendliness. Reduce plastic usage and harmful substance content to achieve a more efficient circular economy.
Compliance recommendations
Enterprises should evaluate the gap between their packaging processes and regulatory requirements as soon as possible and develop transformation plans. Firstly, enterprises must have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the new regulations of PPWR, with a focus on key areas such as the recycling components of packaging materials, packaging design standards, and consumer information disclosure requirements. Secondly, a comprehensive evaluation should be conducted on the existing packaging, with a focus on examining whether the content of recycled materials in the packaging meets the standards and whether the packaging design complies with the requirements of the new regulations. On the basis of evaluation, enterprises need to adjust their business strategies and actual operational processes in a timely manner, prepare all necessary supporting materials, and ensure that relevant procedures can be completed in an orderly manner during the transition period, smoothly achieving compliance with the new regulations.
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