The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) begins to apply across the bloc on August 12, introducing harmonised requirements and an immediate restriction on PFAS in food-contact packaging.
The regulation applies to all packaging placed on the EU market, including packaging imported from outside the bloc.
Under the new rules, food-contact packaging containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances above the regulation’s limits can no longer be placed on the EU market. The measure is intended to reduce exposure to these highly persistent compounds, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” which can accumulate in the environment and the human body.
PFAS have commonly been used to repel grease or water in products such as takeaway containers, fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, bakery paper and pizza boxes.
Beyond PFAS, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation establishes common requirements covering the entire packaging life cycle. By replacing differing national rules with a harmonised framework, the EU aims to provide greater legal certainty and lower compliance costs for companies operating across borders.
The regulation is also intended to reduce packaging waste, support the market for secondary raw materials and decrease the EU’s dependence on virgin resources. These measures form part of the bloc’s broader transition toward a competitive circular economy.
“The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is an investment in Europe’s future,” said Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. She said the framework is intended to reduce waste, advance recycling and make food-contact packaging safer, while acknowledging that businesses will face adjustment costs.
Additional requirements will be introduced in stages. A harmonised packaging labelling system is scheduled to apply across the EU from 2028 to facilitate sorting and improve the efficiency of recycling and composting streams.
From 2030, further provisions are due to take effect, including limits on empty space in packaging, restrictions on certain single-use plastic packaging and reuse targets. Requirements governing recycled content in plastic packaging and the recyclability of all packaging are also scheduled to apply that year.
The European Commission is preparing the secondary legislation needed to implement the framework and said it would continue working with national authorities, industry and civil society to limit unnecessary administrative burdens.
The PPWR entered into force in February 2025, with its requirements applying progressively from August 12, 2026. According to the Commission, without additional action, packaging waste in the EU was projected to increase by 19% by 2030, while plastic packaging waste could rise by as much as 46%.
