New packaging measures now apply across the European Union, as businesses across the supply chain adapt to immediate changes
The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has come into force today, 12 August, with immediate effect.
The new legislation, which covers packaging all along the supply chain, means that each packaging unit produced after 12 August must hold a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and technical documentation evidencing compliance in order to trade legally in the EU or Northern Ireland.
The regulation sets goals to reduce packaging waste, facilitate reuse and increase recycled content, as well as long-term ambitions to transform the packaging landscape and drastically lower packaging emissions.
One key measure under the new rules, which explicitly apply to food content packaging, is a strict threshold of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food-contact packaging, a measure designed to reduce exposure to so-called ‘forever chemicals’.
Food packaging is not to be placed on the market if it contains PFAS substances in a concentration equal to or above specific limit values. While the manufacturer is responsible for issuing a DoC, compliance with these limits will likely involve the supply chain working together.
The new legislation also covers transport packaging such as pallets, containers and crates. Regulations require at least 40 per cent of specified transport packaging used within the EU to be reusable within a reuse system, with 100 per cent requirements for certain movements within the same business group or within a single Member State.
Pallet pooling and logistics firm CHEP has urged British manufacturers and FMCG exporters to review their logistics models for managing pallets and containers, including their processes, data, recovery systems, repair capacity and responsibilities.
Katie Ingham, commercial director at CHEP, said: “PPWR puts transport packaging firmly in the spotlight. For British exporters, that means pallets and containers can no longer be treated as a low-profile operational issue, because businesses will need to show how those assets move through a genuine reuse system.”
“British manufacturing companies need to know where pallets and containers go in Europe, whether they operate within a genuine reuse system, who is responsible for recovery and repair, and whether reliable data can be produced.
“The challenge is that once packaging moves across different sites, partners, and markets, visibility can easily be lost. Companies that act now to review their responsibilities, recovery processes and supporting data will be far better placed to manage compliance risk and keep goods moving smoothly across Europe,” she added.
CHEP also warned that businesses that do not comply with the new regulations risk having responsibility incorrectly assigned, relying on estimated rather than verified data for reporting, and facing costs for regulatory breaches.
Several businesses have already shared their views on the new regulation as new PPWR measures continue to come into place until full implementation in 2030.
Some voiced concern over potential regulatory and operational uncertainty they may have to navigate in a petition launched in July 2026, which called for the postponement of PPWR measures for at least 24 months. The ‘Stop The Clock’ campaign argued that implementing decrees, technical criteria, harmonised methodologies and the operational guidance needed to apply the regulation consistently and uniformly across the EU are still missing.
In total, the petition received the backing of over 500 European businesses and associations, including Italian packaging association Pro Food and plastics manufacturer Unionplast.
Despite the appeal, the rules have come into force as expected. Environmental regulatory compliance specialist Valpak by Reconomy highlighted how businesses have begun adapting to the changes.
Lucy Dolan, operations manager for global compliance at Valpak, said: “Valpak has seen a phenomenal number of queries leading up to the deadline – over 100 each week. Many are SMEs, but whatever the size of business, the challenge is the same.
”Every business is looking for advice on what they need to do, and when they need to do it. We are also seeing confusion around packaging produced before 12 August, which does not fall under the new demand for a DOC,” she added.
The company has welcomed the new legislation but emphasised that many businesses still have more to do to meet their obligations.
Dolan continued: “The demands are challenging, especially for those brands with multiple product lines, but not impossible. As with other areas of compliance, it is all about sourcing, managing and storing the evidence and data effectively. Valpak breaks the process into four steps that build data sets and auditable records, before structuring the Declaration of Conformity.”
12 August marks the first step in the introduction of the regulations with many detailed requirements being phased in over time and total implementation scheduled for 2030.
Key further legislative changes include mandatory compostability for fruit sticky labels by February 2028 and a ban on single-use plastic packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables under 1.5kg by 2030.
