797 Lakh MT of packaging waste was generated by European Union in 2023.
EU-PPWR is a Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation by European Union published on 19th December 2024. It came into force on 11th February 2025 and will be applicable from 12th August 2026.
What is EU-PPWR?
EUPPWR is a Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation introduced by European Union to tackle the growing problem of packaging waste and drive the transition towards a truly circular economy.
It establishes requirements covering the entire life-cycle of packaging, focusing on environmental sustainability, labelling, extended producer responsibility (EPR), waste prevention, and waste management.
Purpose of EU-PPWR:
- Circular Economy Transition: To contribute to the transition to a circular economy and help the EU achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
- Waste Reduction and Prevention: To minimize the overall quantities of packaging and packaging waste generated and decrease the use of primary raw materials.
- Safety and Sustainability: To minimize the use of harmful substances in the packaging and to ensure that all packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2030.
What qualifies as packaging under EU-PPWR?
Packaging material includes any item that is used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery, or presentation of products regardless of its material composition.
Products covered under EU-PPWR:
Packaging is broadly defined and includes:
- Sales packaging: Primary packaging, for end users at the point of sale.
- Grouped packaging: Secondary packaging, grouping several sales units.
- Transport packaging: Tertiary packaging, facilitating handling and transport, excluding road, rail, ship, and air containers.
- E-commerce packaging: Transport packaging for online sales deliveries.
- Service packaging: Specific items like disposable plates/cups intended to be filled at the point of sale and single-serve units for beverages.
Who is it applicable on?
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Significance of EU-PPWR:
- Climate Neutrality: The PPWR contributes directly to the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
- Greenhouse Gas and Fossil Fuel Reduction: Applying the measures proposed in the EU-PPWR is expected to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from packaging to 430 lakh MT in 2030.
- Recyclable packaging: EU-PPWR establishes the core mandate that all packaging placed on the EU market must be designed to be fully recyclable by 2030.
New Rules introduced under EU-PPWR:
Various rules have been introduced under EU-PPWR which will be applicable in phased manner.
12 August 2026:
- PFAS Ban: Food contact packaging placed on the market is prohibited if it contains Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS, or “forever chemicals”) above defined limit values.
- Ban on Excessive Packaging Design: Packaging with characteristics aiming only to increase the perceived volume of the product shall not be placed on the market.
- HORECA Refill Obligation: Final distributors in the HORECA sector making available beverages or prepared food for take away must provide a system for consumers to bring their own container to be filled, under conditions no less favorable than single-use options.
12 August 2028:
- Harmonized Sorting Label: Packaging placed on the market must be marked with a harmonized label detailing its material composition to facilitate sorting.
- Waste Receptacle Label: Member States must ensure that harmonized labels, corresponding to those on the packaging, are affixed to waste receptacles for collection of packaging waste.
1 January 2029:
- Deposit and Return Systems (DRS): Member States must establish DRS for single-use plastic beverage bottles and metal beverage containers
- 90% Collection Target: Member States must ensure the separate collection of at least 90% by weight of the single-use plastic beverage bottles and metal beverage containers placed on the market.
12 February 2029:
- QR Code on Reusable packaging: Reusable packaging placed on the market must bear a label informing users of its reusability, typically via a QR code or digital data carrier.
1 January 2030:
- Universal Recyclability: All packaging placed on the market must be recyclable (meeting recyclability performance grades A, B, or C).
- Minimum Recycled Content (Plastic): Plastic packaging must contain minimum percentages of recycled content recovered from post-consumer waste, including 30% for single-use plastic beverage bottles and 35% for other plastic packaging.
- Packaging Minimization: Manufacturers/importers must ensure packaging weight and volume is reduced to the minimum necessary to ensure functionality.
- Empty Space Restriction: Economic operators filling grouped, transport, or e-commerce packaging must ensure the maximum empty space ratio is 50%.
- Restrictions on Use: Ban on placing packaging on the market for formats listed in Annex V (e.g., single-use plastic grouped packaging; certain single-use fruit/veg packaging; single-use items for HORECA consumption within premises).
