VerpackG Regulations for Packaging Waste Management

The EU just published its official guidance on the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and more businesses than expected are impacted. The European Commission has released a 57-page guidance document clarifying how Regulation (EU) 2025/40 will work in practice. With the regulation applying from 12 August 2026, the clock is ticking. Here's what businesses should know: → What counts as "packaging" is broader than you think. IV bags, candle containers, and adhesive process films may be excluded but dust bags for shoes and garments, flower pots sold with plants, and beverage cups filled at point of sale are likely in scope. → Know whether you're a "manufacturer" or a "producer." These are two distinct roles with very different obligations. Manufacturers are responsible for sustainability and labelling compliance across the EU. Producers handle extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees in whichever Member State the packaging becomes waste. → PFAS in food-contact packaging is banned from August 2026 with no transitional period for existing stock placed on the market after that date. → Re-use targets kick in from 2030, covering transport, beverage, and sales packaging. At least 40% of transport packaging must be reusable by then. For beverages, final distributors must offer at least 10% in reusable packaging. → Deposit Return Systems must be operational by 2029, targeting 90% separate collection of plastic bottles and metal cans. → Labelling rules are being harmonised and national sorting labels will no longer be permitted alongside EU harmonised labels from August 2028. The guidance is non-binding but reflects the Commission's interpretation. Businesses that move early will be far better placed when enforcement begins. #ppwr #packaging #sustainability #circulareconomy #euregulation #esg #compliance

♻️ PPWR 2026: The Moment of Truth for Flexible Packaging Over the past few months, PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) has been everywhere in our industry. But beyond the discussions… 👉 This is not just another regulation 👉 It is a forced transformation of the entire flexible packaging value chain 🚨 2026: The Compliance Gate 📅 August 12, 2026 From this moment: * ♻️ Packaging must be recyclable * 🚫 PFAS banned in food contact packaging * 🏷️ Design for Recycling (D4R) becomes mandatory ➡️ In simple terms: No recyclability = No market access (EU) ❌ The Reality of Traditional Structures For decades, flexible packaging has been optimized for performance: * PET / Alu / PA / PE * Multi-layer laminates * High barrier & long shelf-life But under PPWR: 👉 ❌ Difficult to recycle 👉 💰 High EPR fees 👉 ⚠️ At risk of being phased out 💰 PPWR + EPR = Catalyst for Change 🚀 This is where the real pressure comes from: * 📜 PPWR → Legal requirement * 💰 EPR → Financial impact ➡️ Together: * ❌ Non-recyclable → higher cost + compliance risk * ♻️ Recyclable → lower cost + better acceptance 👉 Sustainability is no longer optional 👉 It is now a business survival factor 🔄 The Structural Shift is Clear 🚀 From: ❌ Multi-layer / non-recyclable To: ♻️ Mono-material solutions (PE / PP) Designed for: * ♻️ Recycling compatibility * 🔁 PCR integration * 📲 Digital traceability (DPP / QR) ⚙️ The Real Challenge (We All Know This…) The transition is not straightforward: * Barrier vs recyclability trade-off * Retort & heat resistance limitations * Seal integrity & shelf-life * Machine runnability & efficiency * Cost gap vs traditional structures ➡️ The question is no longer “why change?” ➡️ It is “how to make it work at scale?” 🤝 Collaboration is the Only Way Forward No single player can solve this alone: * 🧪 Material suppliers → advanced resins & barrier solutions * ⚙️ Machine makers → enable mono-material processing * 🏭 Converters → optimize structure & performance * 🛒 Brand owners → drive adoption & scale 👉 Circularity only works when the entire ecosystem aligns 🎯 2030: The Survival Filter * ♻️ >70% recyclability expected * 🔁 PCR integration becomes standard (~30%) * 📲 Digital traceability becomes mandatory ➡️ Only packaging that is designed for circularity will remain competitive. 🔥 Final Thought PPWR is not just changing regulations. 👉 It is redefining how flexible packaging is designed 👉 From performance-driven → to circularity-driven innovation Those who adapt early will not just comply… They will lead the future of flexible packaging. ♻️ The transition has already started 🚀 The only question is: Are we ready to scale it? #PPWR #FlexiblePackaging #SustainablePackaging #Recyclability #MonoMaterial #EPR #CircularEconomy #PackagingInnovation

PPWR: the regulatory game-changer for coffee single-serve pods & capsules (EU) After EUDR, the next challenge for the coffee industry in Europe is the PPWR ! The EU has adopted the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) — a binding regulation that reshapes how packaging must be designed, labelled, collected, sorted and recycled. For coffee single-serve formats (Nespresso-type aluminium capsules, plastic pods, Lavazza formats, compatibles), this is not a “PR topic”: it is a design constraint. 1) Timeline you need on your radar The PPWR becomes broadly applicable from 12 August 2026. The political end-goal is clear: all packaging should be recyclable by 2030 (in practice, via PPWR’s recyclability rules and grading). 2) What PPWR changes specifically for coffee single-serve A) “Recyclable” becomes a graded requirement (not a marketing word) PPWR introduces a concept of recyclability performance grades (A/B/C etc.) and makes market access dependent on meeting minimum recyclability thresholds over time. It also introduces the idea of recyclability “at scale” (often discussed around the 2035 step): it’s no longer enough to be recyclable “in theory” — you must be collectable, sortable, and actually recycled in real infrastructure. B) Plastics: mandatory recycled content targets (2030 & 2040) PPWR sets minimum recycled content requirements for plastic packaging (with differentiated targets depending on “contact-sensitive” categories and material families). C) “Compostable” is possible, but tightly framed (and not a free pass) PPWR defines and restricts how compostability is handled, linking it to standards and appropriate waste systems. D) Source reduction: weight/volume minimisation and “unnecessary packaging” PPWR pushes “minimise packaging” (mass and volume) and targets unnecessary features that inflate packaging. 3) The key takeaway for the coffee sector The winners won’t be decided by “aluminium vs plastic vs compostable”. They’ll be decided by who can prove: simple design + high capture in collection + real sorting + real recycling at scale — with compliant labelling and (for plastics) recycled-content integration. 4) A practical PPWR audit checklist for single-serve (what I would assess) Material simplicity: mono-material where possible - Sortability: size, density, detectability, behaviour on sorting lines (does it get captured or lost?). - Organic contamination management: how does the design handle residual coffee and moisture (which affect recycling yield/quality)? - Recycled content roadmap (plastics): 2030/2040 compliance plan + food-contact strategy. - Secondary packaging minimisation: weight, volume, void space. - Claims & labelling discipline: “recyclable/compostable” only if end-of-life is aligned with infrastructure and PPWR guidance. Open question for roasters & brands: In single-serve, what is currently harder to achieve: a great cup profile… or demonstrating recycling “at scale” in real systems?  

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞-𝐔𝐩: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰🧑⚖    ❎ The Big Deadlines 🔹By 2030: All packaging placed on the EU market shall be designed for recycling (Design for Recycling criteria to be adopted for each packaging category by end of 2027) and categorized according to recyclability performance grades A, B and C. 🔹By 2035: Recycled-at-scale requirements take effect; focusing on separate collection, sorting into specific waste streams and leading to recycling at scale for defined waste streams. That means packaging must be recyclable at scale across the EU, not just in theory. 🔹By 2038: Only recyclability performance grades A and B will be allowed. ❎ Minimum Recycled Content Targets in Plastics: 🔹By 2030: 30% for PET bottles and contact sensitive packaging from PET, 10% for contact-sensitive packaging other than PET, and 35% for other plastic packaging.  🔹By 2040: Targets will be increased, eg. to 50% recycled content in contact sensitive packaging from PET. ❎ Reusable Packaging Targets: 🔹Not only for beverage distribution but also for transport packaging, which will have big impact on all stages of the value chain.          ❎ Restrictions (“bans”) from 2030: 🔹Think mini hotel toiletries, very lightweight plastic bags, single-portion condiment packs for on-site consumption. ❎ Harmonised Labelling: 🔹One EU-wide disposal label on packaging + matching bin labels from 2028 (reuse labels from 2029).      And here’s the kicker for food producers... For the first time, the compliance burden doesn’t sit with packaging suppliers - it sits with you (the brand owner/manufacturer/importer who places packaging on the market).  That means:  ✅ YOU must prove your packaging meet PPWR requirements.   ✅ YOU will need supplier data, to assess recyclability performance grades for YOUR packaging unit, and to declare achievement of recycled content targets.   ✅ Technical documentation and EU declarations of conformity are mandatory for YOU.      What this means for business?   ✨ You can’t “design pretty” first and think about recycling later.   ✨ “Recycle-ready” isn’t enough if the infrastructure doesn’t actually exist.   ✨ And for beverage and transport packaging? Reuse targets are no longer optional.  ✨ Single-use portion formats in HORECA and accommodation sector, and other formats, will get restricted.  ✨ Marketing claims must match law, not vibe.      This is the biggest packaging shake-up in decades.   If your packaging strategy isn’t already aligned with PPWR… you’re not behind schedule. You’re behind reality.      We’ll be at FACHPACK (23.-25.9.2025). Come find the Wipak stand (Hall 4, Stand 4-312) and ask us the hard questions. Bring your toughest PPWR worries - we’ll bring the answers. Don’t forget to ask about DigitalChoice. Trust me, you want to get in on this!😉 #PPWR #sustainability #plastic #circulareconomy

The EU published its official interpretation of the Packaging Regulation today. Read it this afternoon. One thing kept coming back to me. Most commentary will focus on the packaging redesign requirements. That's not where I'd focus. It's a data project. To hit recycled content targets you need verified material data from your packaging suppliers. To prove PFAS compliance you need documented evidence from upstream. To calculate EPR fees accurately you need to know what packaging you're placing on which market, in what volumes. To sign your EU declaration of conformity, you, the brand, are solely legally responsible. Even if a supplier drafted it. And the Commission has been explicit about something else. The manufacturer isn't whoever physically makes the packaging. It's whoever owns the trademark on it. You cannot outsource this. You cannot point upstream if something is wrong. The obligation sits with the brand. You can't sign off on data you haven't verified. This is the same pattern we've seen with FLPA. With EUDR. With DPP. The regulation sets the deadline. The data infrastructure takes time to build. Circularity without traceability is just aspiration. Links to the full guidance document in the comments. #PPWR #PackagingRegulation #SupplyChainTransparency #Traceability #Circularity #Sustainability #Fashion #EUDR #DPP

A major milestone for Design for Recycling in Europe: EN 18120-1:2026 is published CEN has officially published EN 18120-1:2026, the first part of a new European standard series dedicated to the design for recycling of plastic packaging. This is more than just another standard. It is the technical backbone that will support the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. >> What does EN 18120-1:2026 bring? This foundational document establishes: - A common framework and terminology for design for recycling - Principles to assess compatibility of packaging with collection, sorting, and recycling systems - A harmonised approach across polymers and formats It introduces a practical compatibility grading system: 🟢 Fully compatible 🟡 Limited compatibility 🔴 Not compatible 👉 In short: it translates recyclability into measurable, technical criteria >> A comprehensive standard series EN 18120-1 is just the starting point. It is complemented by: - Process & evaluation: Parts 2-3 - Design guidelines by material: PET, PE/PP, PS, EPS (Parts 4-9) - Recyclability protocols: polymer-specific testing methods (Parts 10-15) >> Access cost (important for industry): - Foundational and complex parts: ~€120-€160 - More specific guidelines/protocols: ~€50-€90 👉 This means a full series access represents a significant investment, especially for SMEs, but also reflects the depth and technical rigor of the framework. >> Understanding the timeline The development of EN 18120 followed the full European standardisation process: - Proposal ✔️ - Drafting ✔️ - Public consultation ✔️ - Comment resolution ✔️ - Approval (Feb 9, 2026) ✔️ - Publication (April 15, 2026) ✅ Next steps: - By October 2026: mandatory adoption as national standards - 2027-2028: EU secondary legislation under PPWR - From ~2030: recyclability requirements become legally applicable >> Where will it apply? CEN standards are not optional for members: 👉 EN 18120 must be implemented (without modification) by national standardisation bodies across more than 30 countries, including: EU Member States (e.g. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands…) + EFTA & associated countries (Norway, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Kingdom, etc.) -> At the same time, conflicting national standards must be withdrawn by October 2026, ensuring true European harmonisation. >> How does this connect to PPWR? The articulation is explicit and strategic: - The European Commission, under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, will define recyclability criteria - It must take into account European standards developed by CEN 👉 The EN 18120 series becomes the technical reference framework -> In simple terms: CEN = defines the “how” (technical methods & criteria) PPWR = defines the “what” (legal obligations)

🚨 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗗𝗚 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗦: 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗣𝗪𝗥 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 On 13 February 2026, Germany has notified its draft Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG) under TRIS procedure 2026/0069/DE, confirming that national implementation of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) is already moving into the operational phase ahead of the August 2026 applicability date. The notified text is noteworthy not for restating the Regulation, but for structuring the national compliance infrastructure through which directly applicable EU obligations will operate in practice. The draft maintains a nationwide uniform DRS with a minimum €0.25 deposit, mandatory marking, take-back/refund obligations, and detailed operational rules (including scope limitations for small retailers). Manufacturers may place PET single-use beverage bottles on the market only if they contain ≥25% recycled plastic by mass, rising to ≥30% from 1 January 2030. Compliance can also be achieved via annual mass-balance/averaging across bottles placed on the German market (subject to verifiable documentation). Final distributors filling single-use plastic food packaging or single-use beverage cups must also offer a reusable alternative at the point of sale, on no worse price/conditions, now explicitly extending to caps and lids. Specific facilitations apply for small businesses and vending machines. The draft introduces an authorisation-driven governance model for systems / producer responsibility organisations, including financial capacity/security requirements, reinforced reporting and audit features, and a stronger role for the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) as a core compliance “hub”. Germany is therefore not redefining the PPWR obligations themselves, but the way in which those obligations will operate in practice. This raises a recurring practical issue in EU regulatory law: uniform substantive rules may still lead to different compliance realities. If companies placing packaging on the EU market must comply with PPWR, but each Member State defines its own operational system, will compliance remain truly uniform in practice? And, at what point do national implementation choices start affecting the level playing field that a Regulation is meant to guarantee? The notified text is attached below ⬇️

Preparing for the EU PPWR? While many companies are already working toward compliance, critical missteps can still slow progress, increase risk and costs, or lead to non-compliance. ➡️ Here are 10 DON’Ts to help you stay on track: 1️⃣ Don’t wait for final rules Many requirements are already clear. Assess their relevance to your packaging portfolio. Identify grey areas where definitions or methodologies are still pending and find ways to make progress regardless. Know your worst-case scenario and have a contingency plan. Delaying action is risky as packaging redesigns and supply chain changes take time. 2️⃣ Don’t rely on vague claims All claims must be specific and backed by evidence. Remember, PPWR only allows claims that go beyond its baseline requirements. 3️⃣ Don’t ignore data and data systems Reporting will be more demanding. Without accurate data, you won’t be able to compile your Declaration of Conformity or make informed decisions about necessary packaging changes. 4️⃣ Don’t overlook tertiary, transport, intercompany, marketing, and e-commerce packaging All packaging layers count under PPWR. Many companies focus only on primary and secondary packaging, deprioritizing the rest. 5️⃣ Don’t assume exemptions Carefully verify whether your packaging qualifies. If it’s not explicitly exempt under PPWR, plan for the worst-case scenario. 6️⃣ Don’t forget the EU Waste Hierarchy Established by the EU Waste Framework Directive, it prioritizes waste management options. Use it to guide packaging decisions and align team thinking when brainstorming end-of-life solutions. 7️⃣ Don’t delay involving your packaging suppliers Engage early. You can learn a lot from your suppliers, gain new perspectives, discuss potential solutions, and anticipate challenges in obtaining the right technical data for your Declaration of Conformity. Or you may realize that your current partners are not aligned with what you need to do for PPWR. 8️⃣ Don’t underestimate PPWR timelines 2030 is closer than it seems. Key requirements like limits on substances of concern, Declaration of Conformity, and claim substantiation come into force as early as 12 August 2026. 9️⃣ Don’t silo the responsibility PPWR is cross-functional. Involve regulatory affairs, sustainability, packaging development, legal, procurement, supply chain, quality, and marketing. 1️⃣0️⃣ Don’t ignore other regulations National laws, evolving REACH, Digital Product Passports, and others may already impact your PPWR work. Look for synergies and ensure alignment. ➡️ The secret sauce for PPWR success? Start early, stay informed, and involve the right people across your organization. But every great recipe can be improved…what would you add to the mix? __________________ ✅ In my content, I provide guidance on EU PPWR through the lens of business sense. Follow me for practical advice.

The European Commission has now published its final, non-binding guidance on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. This follows the draft guidance approved in March and lands just over two months before the PPWR starts applying on 12 August 2026. What stood out to me is the section on PFAS in food-contact packaging. The guidance confirms that the PPWR does not provide a transitional period for exhausting stocks. So, food-contact packaging containing PFAS above the relevant limits cannot be placed on the market after 12 August 2026. Packaging placed on the market before that date may remain on the market and does not need to be withdrawn. That distinction matters. For sales and grouped food-contact packaging, the Commission indicates that placing on the market will generally occur when the packaging is filled. For transport and service packaging, it will generally be when the packaging is placed on the market empty. This is non-binding guidance, not a legal amendment. But for companies preparing for PPWR application, it gives a clear signal on how the Commission expects the PFAS restriction, stock position and timing questions to be read. The operational window is now short.

Commission publishes guidance to support implementation of new packaging rules, for a more sustainable and competitive EU packaging sector Today, the European Commission published guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to facilitate the uniform application of the new packaging rules across the EU and simplify compliance for economic actors and Member States. The full application of this law will contribute to a more sustainable and competitive packaging sector across the EU and to strengthening the Single Market for packaging through common rules. The guidance document clarifies rules where the PPWR need further interpretation and areas where stakeholders have requested assistance. For instance, it clarifies when a company is considered manufacturer or producer, as well as which items are considered packaging under the PPWR. The Commission guidance document will be translated into all EU official languages before being formally adopted. The accompanying Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) address a wide range of practical issues raised by stakeholders since the adoption of the PPWR last year. The Commission will update the FAQ document as needed. While providing more clarity on key provisions of the new packaging rules, the guidance document and the FAQs do not replace, add to, or amend the provisions of the PPWR. You can find more information in the press release. https://lnkd.in/eb5Wd5-D