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What is PPWR?
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) – Regulation (EU) 2025/40 is a landmark piece of European Union legislation that establishes a harmonised legal framework for all packaging placed on the EU market and all packaging waste generated within the Union, regardless of the material used.
Unlike its predecessor (Directive 94/62/EC), which required individual Member States to write their own national laws, the PPWR is a directly applicable Regulation. This means the same rules apply uniformly across all EU Member States, reducing market fragmentation and establishing a level playing field for businesses.
Its primary objective is twofold: Ensure the smooth functioning of the EU internal market by harmonising national packaging rules. Transition to a circular economy by preventing waste, promoting reuse, and mandating recycling.
How does the PPWR work?
The three core pillars
The PPWR operates through three distinct regulatory mechanisms designed to cover the entire life cycle of packaging:
Sustainability & Eco-Design Requirements: Packaging must be designed from the start to have minimal environmental impact. This includes strict limits on hazardous substances (such as PFAS in food-contact packaging), mandatory requirements for recyclability, minimum recycled content in plastics, and the minimisation of packaging weight and volume.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) & Waste Management: The “polluter pays” principle is legally reinforced. Anyone placing packaging on the EU market must register in national registers and pay fees to fund collection and recycling systems. These EPR fees will be “eco-modulated” (cheaper fees for more recyclable packaging).
Consumer Labelling & Digital Infrastructure: Packaging must carry standardized, harmonised labels to show consumers how to sort waste. Reusable packaging will be tracked digitally using QR codes or other standardized data carriers to monitor its lifespan and rotations.
We are here now: 04.09.2026
From 12 August 2026
The PPWR generally starts applying across the EU. All packaging must carry harmonised sorting labels to facilitate consumer recycling
From 1 January 2029
Deposit & Return Systems – DRS
Member States must establish mandatory non-profit DRS for single-use plastic beverage bottles and metal cans (up to 3 litres) to achieve a 90% separate collection target
From 1 January 2030
Deposit & Return Systems – DRS
The PPWR introduces stricter packaging requirements across the EU, including recyclability, packaging minimisation, recycled content, single-use restrictions and and targets to reduce packaging waste.
Economic Operator Roles
Who is responsible for what?
To ensure compliance, the PPWR clearly defines and divides responsibilities among different “Economic Operators” in the supply chain:
Importer
Dubrink and CBAM evolve hand-in-hand, keeping you CBAM compliant as the regulation evolves.
Producer
Your data stays yours. Maintain full control over who sees what, with enterprise-grade security.
Distributor / Retailer
Every action is logged and traceable, giving you transparency in case of audits or cross-checks.