A new technical proposal for EU harmonised waste sorting labels has been published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) to support implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

The proposal aims to simplify and standardise how packaging is labelled for waste sorting across all EU member states.

It feeds into upcoming regulatory implementing acts and is intended to reduce inconsistent waste labelling that currently hinders recycling and internal market efficiency in the packaging sector.

Why harmonised waste sorting labels matter for packaging and recycling

The packaging industry and waste management stakeholders have long identified divergent national waste labelling systems in the EU as a barrier to efficient recycling.

The JRC’s proposal sets out a material-based waste sorting label system that would be applied consistently across the EU on both packaging and waste receptacles to help consumers dispose of packaging waste correctly.

This approach is designed to reduce confusion at the point of disposal and support higher recycling rates.

Under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, all packaging placed on the EU market must meet new design, recyclability and labelling requirements. Harmonising waste sorting labels is expected to form a key element of this drive.

The JRC’s report draws on extensive research, including citizen workshops, surveys, and stakeholder consultations, to recommend a framework that improves clarity and supports existing collection systems across member states.

What the JRC proposal recommends

The JRC technical proposal outlines a comprehensive labelling structure built around material categories, such as paper, glass, plastics, metals and composite materials. The system would use pictograms and visual elements to indicate correct sorting instructions.

It also includes guidance on how labels should appear on multi-material packaging and on corresponding waste bins. Implementation flexibility is emphasised, recognising practical and design limitations across different packaging formats.

The proposal highlights challenges linked to regulatory alignment, technical constraints, and consumer understanding.

It makes evidence-based recommendations on label granularity, visual design, colour use and additional elements such as accessibility features and the potential use of digital information carriers like QR codes.

Implications for businesses and supply chains

For producers, pack designers and waste management service providers, the move toward EU harmonised waste labelling will require early planning and adjustments to packaging specifications.

The proposal is not legally binding but will inform implementing acts that are due by August 2026, setting mandatory technical specifications and compliance criteria under the PPWR.

Industry groups have previously expressed concerns about mandatory elements such as colour coding and text, citing costs and market fragmentation.

The JRC’s approach aims to balance these concerns with the need to support consumer sorting behaviour and the broader objectives of the EU’s circular economy strategy.

Once finalised in implementing acts, the harmonised waste-sorting label system is expected to apply to all packaging within the EU, including industrial and logistics packaging.

This reflects a broader shift in the region towards a more unified regulatory framework for packaging waste and recycling under the PPWR and the European Green Deal.