Overview
EU law covers all packaging and packaging waste on the European market, including all materials and packaging in commercial, household, industrial and other sectors.
The rules, first laid out in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC (PPWD) and now the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR), regulate what kind of packaging can be placed on the EU market, as well as packaging waste management and prevention measures.
All packaging must comply with essential requirements related to its manufacturing, composition, and reusable or recoverable nature.
Objectives
The PPWR entered into force on 11 February 2025 and its general date of application is 18 months after that.
The rules aim to minimise the quantities of packaging and waste generated while lowering the use of primary raw materials and fostering the transition to a circular, sustainable and competitive economy.
By replacing the PPWD, the new regulation harmonises national measures further - strengthening the internal market - notably for secondary raw materials, manufacturing, recycling and reuse.
It aims to:-
- Prevent and reduce packaging waste, including through more reuse and refill systems.
- Make all packaging on the EU market recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030.
- Safely increase the use of recycled plastics in packaging.
- Decrease the use of virgin materials in packaging and put the sector on track to climate neutrality by 2050.
Law
The PPWR establishes a new set of requirements in line with Europe's waste rules that cover the entire packaging life cycle – from product design to waste handling.
By 2030, the measures are expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use, while preventing and reducing the adverse impacts of packaging and packaging waste on the environment and human health.
The new rules include:-
- Restrictions on certain single-use plastics, such as pre-packed fruit and veg weighing less than 1.5 kg and individual portions of condiments, sauces, and sugar in hotels, bars and restaurants.
- Minimising the weight and volume of packaging and avoiding unnecessary packaging.
- 2030 and 2040 targets for a minimum percentage of recycled content in packaging.
- A requirement for take-away businesses to offer customers the option to bring their own containers at no extra cost.
- Minimising substances of concern, including restrictions on packaging containing per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) if they exceed certain thresholds.
The PPWD will be repealed 18 months after the PPWR enters into force. However, some provisions of the existing regulation will continue to apply even after that date.
Marking and identification
Data and Reporting
- Directive standardising and rationalising reports on the implementation of certain Directives relating to the environment
- Decision concerning questionnaires for Member States' reports on the implementation of certain Directives in the waste sector
- Decision establishing the formats relating to the database system and implementing decision amending this decision
- Implementing decision laying down the methodology for the calculation of the annual consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags
Derogations
- Decision establishing the conditions for a derogation for plastic crates and plastic pallets in relation to the heavy metal concentration levels
- Decision establishing the conditions for a derogation for glass packaging in relation to the heavy metal concentration levels
Notification of draft measures Member States intend to implement within the framework of the Packaging Directive
Implementation
The requirements in the PPWR will be further specified in harmonised standards for packaging, guidelines, and subsequent adoption of implementing and delegated acts. Further information on the implementation of the PPWR will be published soon.
On 16 December 2024, DG Environment organised an online stakeholder event to prepare for the implementation of and smooth transition to the new rules. Find a recording and slides from the event here.
- 12 August 2026General application date of PPWR provisions
- 11 February 2025PPWR enters into force
- 30 November 2022Commission adopted revision of EU rules on Packaging and Packaging Waste
- September 2020 - January 2021Open public consultation on the review of requirements for packaging and other measures to prevent packaging waste
- 30 May 2018Packaging Directive amended to reinforce prevention and to promote reuse and recycling of packaging waste
- 29 April 2015Packaging Directive amended to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags
- 20 December 1994Packaging Directive enters into force
- Scoping study to assess the feasibility of further EU measures on waste prevention and implementation of the Plastic Bags Directive. Part II, Implementation of Plastic Bags Directive
- Report on the effectiveness of the essential requirements for packaging and packaging waste and proposals for reinforcement
- Report on the relevance of biodegradable and compostable consumer plastic products and packaging in a circular economy
- Report on the impact of the use of "oxo-degradable" plastic on the environment
Learn more about packaging waste and waste management at the Environmental Data Centre on Waste and the European Environmental Agency.
Main laws: Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (2025); Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (1994)
Related topics: Circular Economy; Plastics Plastic bags
Related strategies: Circular Economy Action Plan; Plastics Strategy Single-use plastics Directive
Related Commission priorities: European Green Deal
Contact
For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.
