The European Union has finalized a landmark packaging regulation set to take effect in August 2026, replacing the 1994 Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. The new rule applies to all packaging sold in the EU, including industrial packaging and waste from manufacturing, services, retail, and households.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Who’s Affected:
Manufacturers, reconditioners (including of steel/plastic drums and IBCs), importers, distributors, and service providers—all companies producing or using packaging in the EU.
Sustainability Requirements:
Packaging must be recyclable and, in most cases, made with recycled content by January 1, 2030.
- The EU will establish detailed design and content standards in advance of that date.
- Packaging for dangerous goods is exempt from recycled content requirements, but all other industrial packaging is included.
PFAS Restrictions:
The regulation limits the use of PFAS in food-contact packaging.
Reusability Mandates (by 2030):
- 100% of transport packaging used within a company’s sites or within a Member State must be reusable.
- 40% of packaging used for EU-wide transport must be reusable.
- Reuse systems will be required for companies using reusable packaging.
- Importantly, empty reusable packaging sent for reconditioning is no longer classified as waste, easing compliance burdens for cross-border shipments.
Labeling Requirements:
- By August 2028: All packaging must display its material composition, with optional digital markers (e.g., QR codes) for sorting instructions.
- By August 2029: Reusable packaging must be labeled and include digital tracking for reuse systems and collection point access. It must also be clearly distinguishable from single-use packaging at the point of sale.
Big Picture:
This is the most far-reaching packaging regulation ever adopted across multiple nations.
- While dangerous goods packaging is mostly exempt, the regulation sets new standards for industrial packaging and mandates reuse.
- It introduces robust labeling and tracking systems that will likely boost circularity in the packaging sector.