{"id":8954,"date":"2025-05-14T08:00:19","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T05:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/?p=8954"},"modified":"2025-06-18T12:19:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T09:19:21","slug":"key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Milestones of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since its publication in the Official Journal on 22\u202fJanuary\u202f2025, Regulation\u202f(EU)\u202f2025\/40 (\u201cPPWR\u201d) has set a clear, phased timeline to transform packaging across the EU into sustainable, circular\u2010economy\u2013friendly materials. From strict chemical limits and the first reusable packaging standards to binding recycled\u2010content requirements and \u201crecycled at scale\u201d targets, the PPWR charts a path from 12\u202fAugust\u202f2026 through 2035. Below, we highlight the Regulation\u2019s most critical deadlines\u2014organized by year\u2014and the concrete obligations they impose on industry, Member States, and the European Commission.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr\/#By%E2%80%AF2026\" >By\u202f2026<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr\/#By%E2%80%AF2027\" >By\u202f2027<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr\/#By%E2%80%AF2028\" >By\u202f2028<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr\/#By%E2%80%AF2029\" >By\u202f2029<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr\/#By%E2%80%AF2030%E2%80%AF%E2%80%94Critical_Milestones\" >By\u202f2030\u202f\u2014Critical Milestones<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr\/#By%E2%80%AF2035\" >By\u202f2035<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/key-milestones-of-the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-regulation-ppwr\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"By%E2%80%AF2026\"><\/span><strong>By\u202f2026<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>PFAS limits for food\u2010contact packaging (Article\u202f5):<\/strong> From 12\u202fAugust\u202f2026, food\u2011contact packaging may not be placed on the EU market if it contains any individual PFAS above 25\u202fppb, the sum of PFAS above 250\u202fppb, or total fluorine (including polymeric PFAS) above 50\u202fppm.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Heavy\u2011metals content limit (Article\u202f5):<\/strong> The combined concentration of cadmium, lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium in any packaging or component must remain below 100\u202fmg\/kg of material.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Commission report on substances of concern:<\/strong> By 31\u202fDecember\u202f2026, the Commission\u2014assisted by ECHA\u2014must report on the presence of substances of concern (including PFAS and heavy metals) in packaging and their impact on reuse and recycling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"By%E2%80%AF2027\"><\/span><strong>By\u202f2027<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Standards for packaging minimization (Article\u202f10):<\/strong> By 12\u202fFebruary\u202f2027, the Commission is empowered to request European standardization bodies to define maximum packaging weights, allowed empty\u2010space ratios, wall thicknesses for rigid packaging, and other minimization parameters.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reusable packaging cycle thresholds (Article\u202f11):<\/strong> By 12\u202fFebruary\u202f2027, the Commission must adopt a delegated act specifying minimum numbers of reuse cycles for packaging to qualify as \u201creusable.\u201d Packaging placed on the market from 11\u202fFebruary\u202f2025 is deemed reusable if it meets these conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8950 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ppwr-2026-2035-1-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation ppwr 2026-2035\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ppwr-2026-2035-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ppwr-2026-2035-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ppwr-2026-2035-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ppwr-2026-2035-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ppwr-2026-2035-1-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ppwr-2026-2035-1.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"By%E2%80%AF2028\"><\/span><strong>By\u202f2028<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Design for Recycling (DfR) guidelines (Article\u202f6):<\/strong> By 1\u202fJanuary\u202f2028, the Commission will adopt delegated acts detailing DfR criteria\u2014recyclability grades (A\/B\/C) based on Annex\u202fII Table\u202f3\u2014and methodologies to assist industry in designing packaging that meets the 2030 recyclability threshold.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"By%E2%80%AF2029\"><\/span><strong>By\u202f2029<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Deposit\u2011Return Schemes (Article\u202f50):<\/strong> By 1\u202fJanuary\u202f2029, Member States must set up deposit\u2011return systems for single\u2011use plastic bottles and metal beverage containers (\u2264\u202f3\u202fL capacity). Exemptions apply to wine, spirits, milk products, and products consumed on HORECA premises, or if a Member State already collects over 90\u202f% by weight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"By%E2%80%AF2030%E2%80%AF%E2%80%94Critical_Milestones\"><\/span><strong>By\u202f2030\u202f\u2014<\/strong><strong>Critical <\/strong><strong>Milestones<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Mandatory Design for Recycling (Article\u202f6):<\/strong> All packaging placed on the market must comply with the DfR criteria and achieve a recyclability performance grade A, B or\u202fC (\u2265\u202f70\u202f% recyclability per unit by weight). Anything below C is not considered recyclable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Minimum recycled\u2010content targets &#8211; PCR (Article\u202f7):<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Contact\u2011sensitive PET (food\/cosmetics): \u2265\u202f30\u202f% recycled content<\/li>\n<li>Contact\u2011sensitive non\u2011PET plastics (e.g., PP, HDPE): \u2265\u202f10\u202f%<\/li>\n<li>Other plastic packaging (e.g., industrial goods): \u2265\u202f35\u202f%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Packaging minimization enforcement (Article\u202f10):<\/strong> Excess packaging must be eliminated per the technical parameters defined by 12\u202fFebruary\u202f2027.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Per\u2011capita waste reduction (Article\u202f43):<\/strong> Member States must achieve a 5\u202f% reduction in packaging waste per capita compared to 2018.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transport\u2011packaging reuse (Article\u202f29):<\/strong> At least 40\u202f% of transport\u2011assisting packaging (e.g., drums, crates, pallet wraps) must be reusable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Extended Producer Responsibility modulation (Article\u202f46):<\/strong> EPR fees will be eco\u2011modulated based on recyclability performance grades and recycled content percentages.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Delegated acts for \u201cRecycled at Scale\u201d (Article\u202f53):<\/strong> The Commission will, by 1\u202fJanuary\u202f2030, adopt acts defining the methodology for assessing \u201crecycled at scale\u201d\u2014to be fully implemented by 1\u202fJanuary\u202f2035.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-8946\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/freepik__the-style-is-candid-image-photography-with-natural__19379-1024x701.png\" alt=\"Key Milestones of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/freepik__the-style-is-candid-image-photography-with-natural__19379-1024x701.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/freepik__the-style-is-candid-image-photography-with-natural__19379-300x205.png 300w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/freepik__the-style-is-candid-image-photography-with-natural__19379-768x525.png 768w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/freepik__the-style-is-candid-image-photography-with-natural__19379.png 1216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"By%E2%80%AF2035\"><\/span><strong>By\u202f2035<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Recycled at Scale (Article\u202f53):<\/strong> All packaging categories must achieve separate collection, sorting, and recycling in \u201cstate\u2011of\u2011the\u2011art\u201d infrastructure proven in operational environments across at least 75\u202f% of the EU population.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Per\u2011capita waste reduction (Article\u202f43):<\/strong> Member States must achieve a 10\u202f% reduction in packaging waste per capita compared to 2018.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">By following this phased roadmap\u2014from strict chemical restrictions in 2026 to binding recyclability, recycled-content, reuse, and waste\u2011reduction targets by 2030 and \u201crecycled at scale\u201d requirements by 2035\u2014the PPWR aims to harmonize packaging across the Single Market, dramatically cut environmental impacts, and lock in circular\u2011economy practices for decades to come.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can find more information on the official <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/eli\/reg\/2025\/40\/oj\/eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">publication<\/a> of the PPWR by the EU.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since its publication in the Official Journal on 22\u202fJanuary\u202f2025, Regulation\u202f(EU)\u202f2025\/40 (\u201cPPWR\u201d) has set a clear, phased timeline to transform packaging across the EU into sustainable, circular\u2010economy\u2013friendly materials. From strict chemical limits and the first reusable packaging standards to binding recycled\u2010content requirements and \u201crecycled at scale\u201d targets, the PPWR charts a path from 12\u202fAugust\u202f2026 through 2035.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,545,540],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","category-packaging-legislation-en","category-regulations-policy-en","category-28","category-545","category-540","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8954"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8956,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8954\/revisions\/8956"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}