EU carbon rules / Regulations / Packaging and Packaging Waste PPWR
In force Regulation Industry & products
Packaging and Packaging Waste PPWR
Recycled content shares, recyclability
- Reference
- Regulation (EU) 2025/40
- Key date
- 2025
- Applies to
- Packaging and packaging materials
01
Who the regulation applies to
This regulation applies to:
- Economic operators placing packaging on the EU market: applies to packaging of all materials and all packaging waste, whether used in or arising from industry, other manufacturing, retail or distribution, offices, services or households
- Packaging producers and entities subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR)
- Directly applicable from 12 August 2026 without transposition by Member States; the former Directive 94/62/EC (PPWD) has been replaced
- (Limited) Hazardous waste management is subject to Directive 2008/98/EC; in the event of conflict with Directive 2008/68/EC, the latter prevails
The following provisions define its scope:
Article 1 — Subject matter
1. This Regulation establishes requirements for the entire life-cycle of packaging as regards environmental sustainability and labelling, to allow its placing on the market. It also establishes requirements for extended producer responsibility, packaging waste prevention, such as the reduction of unnecessary packaging and the re-use or refill of packaging, as well as the collection and treatment, including recycling, of packaging waste.
2. This Regulation contributes to the efficient functioning of the internal market by harmonising national measures on packaging and packaging waste in order to avoid obstacles to trade and the distortion and restriction of competition within the Union, while preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of packaging and packaging waste on the environment and human health, on the basis of a high level of environmental protection.
3. This Regulation contributes to the transition to a circular economy and to achieving climate neutrality at the latest by 2050, as provided for under Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council (53), by laying down measures in line with the waste hierarchy set out in Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC (‘waste hierarchy’).
Article 2 — Scope
1. This Regulation applies to all packaging, regardless of the material used, and to all packaging waste, whether such packaging is used in or such packaging waste originates from industry, other manufacturing, retail or distribution, offices, services or households.
2. This Regulation applies without prejudice to the provisions of Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the management of hazardous waste as well as to Union regulatory requirements for packaging such as those for safety, quality, the protection of health and the hygiene of packed products, and to transport requirements. However, where this Regulation conflicts with Directive 2008/68/EC, Directive 2008/68/EC shall prevail.
02
What the regulation requires
| Duty | Trigger | Evidence | Timing |
Packaging recyclability and recycled content
Packaging must meet recyclability-by-design, recycled content and reduction requirements. | Placing packaging or packaged goods on the EU market | Declaration of conformity, EPR registration, recyclability assessment | Phased from 2030 |
03
Key provisions
Article 6(1) — all packaging shall be recyclable
All packaging placed on the market shall be recyclable.
Article 6(3) — recyclability performance grades A, B or C
Packaging recyclability shall be expressed in the recyclability performance grades A, B or C as described in Table 3 of Annex II. ... from 1 January 2030 ... packaging shall not be placed on the market unless it is recyclable within grades A, B or C as described in Table 3 of Annex II. ... from 1 January 2038 packaging shall not be placed on the market unless it is recyclable within grades A or B as described in Table 3 of Annex II.
Article 7(1) — minimum recycled content in plastic packaging from 2030
By 1 January 2030 or 3 years from the date of entry into force of the implementing act referred to in paragraph 8 of this Article, whichever is the latest, any plastic part of packaging placed on the market shall contain the following minimum percentage of recycled content recovered from post-consumer plastic waste, per packaging type and format as referred to in Table 1 of Annex II, calculated as an average per manufacturing plant and year: (a) 30 % for contact-sensitive packaging made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the major component, except single-use plastic beverage bottles; (b) 10 % for contact-sensitive packaging made from plastic materials other than PET, except single-use plastic beverage bottles; (c) 30 % for single-use plastic beverage bottles; (d) 35 % for plastic packaging other than those referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of this paragraph.
04
Industry dossiers covering this regulation