On June 24 2026, the Swiss Federal Council adopted a new Packaging Ordinance (VerpV), establishing a comprehensive legal framework covering all types of packaging placed on the Swiss market. The ordinance, which takes effect on 1 January 2027, replaces the previous Beverage Packaging Ordinance and implements key elements of the parliamentary initiative “Strengthening the Swiss Circular Economy.” For producers, importers and retailers active in Switzerland, it marks a significant expansion of packaging obligations beyond the beverage containers that were previously the main focus of Swiss regulation.
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From Beverage Containers to All Packaging
Until now, Swiss packaging regulation centered on beverage containers, with established collection and recycling systems for glass, PET and aluminum. The new ordinance broadens the scope considerably, bringing all packaging formats (single-use, multi-use, beverage, service and plastic packaging) within a single regulatory framework.
The change reflects a wider shift in Swiss environmental policy toward a more consistent circular economy model. The ordinance reinforces the responsibility of manufacturers and distributors, provides legal certainty for industry-led recycling solutions such as RecyPac and for the first time in Switzerland, establishes binding targets for the material recycling of packaging.
The Key Obligations and Their Timeline
The ordinance introduces its requirements in stages rather than all at once, giving the value chain time to adapt:
- From 2027: Collection systems for packaging may operate under the new framework, provided they meet the legal requirements, giving existing and new industry solutions the legal certainty needed to expand nationwide.
- From 2028: The advance disposal fee will be extended to all glass food and cosmetic packaging.
- From 2030: Packaging must be designed to conserve resources and be as recyclable as possible, with criteria such as recyclability, material efficiency and sustainable design becoming significantly more important.
- From 2031: Manufacturers must track and report the quantities of packaging they place on the market by material type. A subsidiary take-back obligation will also apply to single-use plastic packaging and beverage cartons.
- From 2032: Binding material recycling rates take effect.
If the recycling targets are not met, the Federal Council may order additional measures, including an advance recycling fee or the introduction of a deposit system.
A Pragmatic Approach Compared to the PPWR
One of the most notable features of the Swiss ordinance is how it compares to the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. Switzerland, which is neither an EU nor an EEA member and therefore does not follow EU waste legislation automatically, has taken a deliberately more pragmatic path.
Unlike the PPWR, the Swiss ordinance does not introduce binding minimum recycled content quotas or outright bans on specific single-use plastic packaging formats. It is also less prescriptive in its detail, leaving more room for self-regulation through privately organized recycling schemes. The practical consequence is that the new Swiss rules will most affect companies whose packaging types were not previously regulated under the beverage container rules and which have not already adapted to comply with the EU framework.
This lighter-touch approach has drawn criticism from some quarters. Environmental and food safety organizations argued during the consultation that the draft assigned equal value to reuse and recycling rather than clearly prioritizing reuse and that it lacked the stronger chemical safety provisions and PFAS restrictions found in the PPWR. Whether Switzerland tightens these elements in future revisions remains an open question.
What This Means for Companies
For businesses operating across both the Swiss and EU markets, the divergence between the two frameworks adds a layer of complexity. A company that has aligned its packaging to PPWR requirements will generally find itself well ahead of the Swiss obligations, since the Swiss ordinance is the less demanding of the two. Companies operating primarily in Switzerland, however face a genuine adjustment, with new design, reporting and take-back obligations phased in over the coming years.
The staggered timeline provides a reasonable runway, but the direction of travel is clear: Swiss packaging regulation is moving decisively toward a circular economy model and the businesses that begin adapting their design and reporting systems now will be better positioned as each deadline arrives.
Conclusion
The new Swiss Packaging Ordinance represents the most significant overhaul of packaging regulation in Switzerland in decades, extending producer responsibility across all packaging formats and introducing binding recycling targets for the first time. Its pragmatic, less prescriptive approach distinguishes it clearly from the EU’s PPWR, offering companies a somewhat gentler compliance path while still committing Switzerland to a circular economy trajectory. For producers active in both markets, the ordinance is a reminder that even closely linked European economies are charting their own distinct regulatory courses and that keeping track of the differences is now a routine part of packaging compliance.
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