The European Union will introduce new rules on packaging and packaging waste from August 2026, marking a major step in the bloc’s circular economy strategy. The legislation, known as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), sets binding targets to reduce packaging waste, increase recyclability and limit certain single-use packaging formats.
The regulation, (EU) 2025/40, was formally adopted by the Council of the European Union in December 2024 and published in the Official Journal of the EU in January 2025. Unlike the previous directive on packaging waste, the new measure is a regulation and will therefore apply directly across all EU member states.
According to the European Commission, packaging accounts for a significant share of material use in Europe, representing around 40% of plastic and 50% of paper consumption in the EU. Data from Eurostat also show that packaging waste has continued to increase in recent years, putting pressure on waste management systems.
To address this trend, the regulation introduces binding targets to reduce packaging waste per capita compared with 2018 levels: 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040.
The PPWR also establishes new design requirements. By 2030, all packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable, while by 2035 recyclability will need to be demonstrated at scale through operational recycling systems.
Additional measures include minimum levels of recycled plastic content in certain plastic packaging, restrictions on some avoidable single-use formats and stronger support for reuse and refill systems, including deposit-return schemes for beverage containers.
The regulation also introduces limits on certain chemical substances in food-contact packaging, including restrictions on PFAS above specific thresholds, linking environmental protection with public health objectives.
EU institutions say the new framework aims to harmonise packaging rules across the single market while reducing waste and encouraging innovation in packaging design and materials.
The full application of the regulation is expected to trigger significant adjustments for the food and packaging industries across the European Union in the coming years.