Regulation update
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) starts to apply on 12 August 2026. If you sell packaged goods in the EU, or ship them into the EU from Great Britain, it is one of the biggest packaging changes in a generation. Here is what is changing, when it changes, and what it means for the way you label your products.
What is PPWR, and what does it replace?
PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40) replaces the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive that has been in place since the 1990s. The difference is important: a directive is implemented through each country’s national law, while an EU regulation is directly applicable across all 27 member states. This creates a more consistent set of packaging rules across markets such as Ireland, Germany and France.
Does PPWR apply to UK businesses?
Businesses in Great Britain are outside the EU, so PPWR does not apply to products placed only on the Great Britain market simply because the regulation exists. However, UK businesses that place packaging or packaged goods on the market in Ireland or another EU member state must meet the applicable PPWR requirements before those goods are placed on that EU market. Being established in the UK does not remove those obligations when you sell into the EU.
When does PPWR apply? The first major date is 12 August 2026
From this date, manufacturers must meet the applicable PPWR requirements before placing packaging on the EU market. This includes carrying out the required conformity assessment, preparing technical documentation and drawing up an EU declaration of conformity. Food-contact packaging must also comply with new limits on intentionally added PFAS, and packaging must meet the rules on substances of concern that apply to it.
PPWR timeline: what changes from 2028 to 2038?
The rules phase in over several years. Important dates include:
- From 12 August 2028, or later where the implementing timetable requires it: packaging in scope must carry a harmonised, pictogram-based EU label showing its material composition to help consumers sort it correctly.
- From 12 February 2029, or later where the implementing timetable requires it: reusable packaging in scope must carry a reuse label, with further information provided through a QR code or another standardised digital data carrier.
- From 2030: major design-for-recycling, minimum recycled-content and packaging-minimisation requirements begin to apply, with some exact start dates linked to supporting EU measures.
- From 2035: recyclability assessments begin to include whether packaging is recycled at scale in practice, not only whether it was designed to be recyclable.
- From 1 January 2038: packaging generally must achieve recyclability performance grade A or B to be placed on the market, subject to the regulation’s exceptions and transitional provisions.
What does PPWR mean for your labels?
For packaging within scope, more compliance information will need to be communicated in a standardised and durable way. Mandatory information must be clearly visible, legible and firmly affixed. QR codes and other digital data carriers can provide additional material, reuse, sorting or traceability information, but they do not replace information that the regulation requires to appear physically on the pack.
This means businesses should start reviewing available label space, artwork workflows, material compatibility, print durability and the systems used to add variable information. Early preparation can make it easier to update packaging without holding unnecessary stocks of obsolete pre-printed labels or cartons.
How Weber helps you get label-ready for PPWR
Labelling is what we do. Our label manufacturing and printing solutions, print-and-apply systems and labelling software help businesses apply clear, durable labels reliably across their production lines, whatever the pack or material.
As the harmonised requirements take shape, we can help you plan artwork, label materials, printing and application. Our coding and inkjet systems can also work alongside your labels to add variable information such as QR codes, batch data or market-specific details at the latest practical stage, helping to reduce the need for multiple pre-printed versions of every pack.
Weber Packaging Solutions combines local UK expertise with the support of an international group already working through PPWR requirements across Europe.
Important: This article is a general overview, not legal advice. Exact obligations and start dates can depend on the packaging type, your role in the supply chain and the timing of supporting EU acts. Businesses should review the final rules that apply to their products.
