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Environment

Packaging waste

EU rules on packaging and packaging waste, including design and waste management.

Overview

Packaging uses large quantities of primary raw materials. Increasing quantities of packaging are generated in the EU while the levels of re-use, collection and recycling remain low.  This is a significant barrier to achieving a low-carbon, circular and resilient economy.

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR) entered into force on 11 February 2025 and will generally apply from 12 August 2026. The Regulation: 

  • covers all packaging and packaging waste, regardless of material or origin
  • sets requirements for manufacturing, composition, and reusable or recoverable nature of all packaging placed on the EU market
  • includes packaging waste management and prevention measures

Factsheet - Summary of the Regulation - Facts about packaging and packaging waste

Full frame of trash plastics and cans on white background
© Getty Images, curtoicurto
40% of plastics used in the EU are in packaging
1/2 of marine litter is from packaging
186.5 kg of waste generated in the EU per person in 2022

Objectives

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.

The Regulation aims to:-

  • 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, including:

  • Restrictions on certain single-use plastics, such as for individual portions or sachets of condiments and sauces.
  • 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 PFAS in food contact packaging if they exceed certain thresholds.

The PPWR was preceded by the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC (PPWD), which will be repealed 18 months after the PPWR enters into force.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.

Implementation

The European Commission provides support and resources for Member States, businesses and other stakeholders to help them understand and comply with the rules:

Timeline

Key dates related to EU policy on packaging

  1. 12 August 2026
    General application date of PPWR provisions
  2. 11 February 2025
    PPWR enters into force
  3. 30 November 2022
    Commission adopted revision of EU rules on Packaging and Packaging Waste

    Find out more

  4. September 2020 - January 2021
    Open public consultation on the review of requirements for packaging and other measures to prevent packaging waste

    See more about the public consultation

  5. 30 May 2018
    Packaging Directive amended to reinforce prevention and to promote reuse and recycling of packaging waste
  6. 29 April 2015
    Packaging Directive amended to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags
  8. 20 December 1994
    Packaging Directive enters into force

Related links

Contact

For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.

News

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