PPWR takes effect today: Here are the first requirements

August 12, 2026 marks an important milestone for companies that produce, import or use packaging. As of today, the first requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) apply. The regulation aims to make packaging more sustainable and strengthen the circular economy.

Although several requirements will not come into force until the coming years, there are already a number of new obligations that companies need to be aware of.

What applies from today

As of August 12, 2026, the following requirements, among others, apply:

• All key definitions in the PPWR enter into force.
• Restrictions on heavy metals and PFAS in food-contact materials apply.
• Roles and responsibilities throughout the packaging value chain have been clarified.
• Producers must be able to document that their packaging complies with the requirements of the regulation.

What does this mean in practice?

The producer role has been strengthened

The PPWR clarifies who is considered a producer of packaging. In some cases, companies that repackage products or market packaging under their own name or trademark may assume producer responsibility – even if they do not manufacture the packaging themselves.

This means that companies should review their role in the value chain and ensure that responsibility is correctly assigned.

More products are considered packaging

The PPWR expands the definition of packaging. One example is tea bags, which are now considered packaging when they are disposed of together with their contents.

The revised definition may affect which products are covered by the rules.

New requirements for substances in packaging

As of today, new requirements apply to the content of heavy metals and PFAS in packaging. The rules cover food-contact materials and also introduce requirements for certain types of non-food-contact-sensitive packaging.

Companies should therefore ensure that their packaging complies with the new chemical requirements.

Documentation becomes a key requirement

Producers must be able to document that their packaging complies with the requirements of the PPWR. This includes, among other things, technical documentation and an EU Declaration of Conformity.

The documentation must be made available to the relevant authorities upon request.

Only compliant packaging may be placed on the market

As of today, packaging may only be placed on the market if it complies with the requirements applicable under the PPWR.

Non-compliance may result in the packaging being withdrawn from the market and the authorities becoming involved.

What should companies do now?

Emballageretur recommends that companies already:

• review their packaging portfolio,
• clarify their role and responsibilities under the PPWR,
• ensure that the necessary documentation is in place, and
• assess whether their packaging meets the new requirements.

The PPWR is being implemented gradually through to 2030, but the first requirements already apply from today.

Therefore, it is a good idea to get started now.

Read more in our PPWR guide, or sign up for one of our PPWR courses and webinars, where we explain the rules and what they mean for your business.

You can find more information here:

• Emballageretur's guidance on the PPWR – version 1
• Our many articles on the PPWR
• Our PPWR courses, where you work with your company's packaging
• Our webinars on the PPWR
• Members of Emballageretur can find additional information on our PPWR topic page on MitRetur
• The PPWR Regulation