Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

On 16 December 2024, the European Parliament officially adopted the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The aim of this European regulation is to significantly reduce the environmental impact of packaging and promote the circular economy. It will replace the current Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD). The new regulation represents a major change to the directive and covers the entire life cycle of packaging and packaging waste. It has been published in the Official Journal on 22 January 2025 and will enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication i.e. on 11 February 2025. It shall apply from 12 August 2026.

The new regulation promotes sustainable and recyclable packaging, imposes restrictions on single-use plastic packaging, and sets targets for re-use. The recycling targets remain the same as those in the current packaging directive. It involves all links in the packaging value chain and aims to protect the single market.

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Discover the key-measures of this regulation

Here are just a few of the key measures. This information is not exhaustive and mainly concerns commercial and industrial packaging.

For more detailed information, send an e-mail to ingrid.bouchez@valipac.be

Ban on specific packaging

As of 1 January 2030

Plastic packaging used to group together single-use packaging.
Plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables
Plastic packaging for on-site consumption of drinks and food in the HORECA.
Plastic packaging for condiments, sauces and other small packaging formats in HORECA.
Small cosmetic and toiletry products used in the accommodation sector.

Household packaging: reuse, selective collection and deposit system

As from 2029, 90% of household packaging shall be collected selectively. A deposit system will be mandatory for plastic bottles and metal cans up to 3 liter.

As from 2030 minimum 10% of beverage packaging shall be reusable (exception of highly perishable beverages, categories of grape wine, aromatised wine products, alcohol-based spirituous beverages).

Recyclable packaging

Recycleerbare verpakkingen

As from 1 January 2030, only recyclable packaging can be placed on the market From then on, contributions from packaging managers will be calculated based on the recyclability of the packaging (eco-modulation).

As from 1 January 2035, all packaging must be recyclable at scale. I.e. a minimum of 55% recycling can be demonstrated at European level for each tpye of packaging.

Recyclability

ECO-MODULATION

Prevention measures

Preventive measures will have to be taken to gradually reduce packaging waste by 2040.

Stickers and labelling

Information about the composition must be indicated on the packaging.
Harmonised information for packaging that is part of a deposit system will also be mandatory.
Reusable packaging will have to be marked with a QR code providing information to facilitate reuse (reusability, availability of the reuse system, location of collection points, etc.)
All waste containers intended for the collection of packaging waste shall be labelled in order to enable separate collection of the specific material group.
These obligations do not apply to transport packaging.