The European Union has introduced a new EU packaging regulation that replaces varied national laws with a single, harmonised set of rules across all Member States.
Known as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), this new framework aims to streamline packaging standards and reduce waste across the EU market.
The regulation applies directly in all 27 countries, removing the need for individual national interpretations of EU packaging laws.
A single regulation replaces fragmented laws
The core of the change lies in the shift from the old Packaging Directive to a full EU regulation. Under the previous system, each Member State interpreted and enforced EU packaging waste rules differently, resulting in a patchwork of national requirements.
The new PPWR, officially Regulation (EU) 2025/40, applies uniformly across the entire EU and does not require separate national legislation to come into force. This removes much of the legal complexity that companies have faced when selling products and packaging across borders in Europe.
The regulation was published in the Official Journal of the EU in January 2025 and will start to take effect in stages from August 2026. From that date, companies placing packaging on the EU market will need to comply with the unified standards set out in the PPWR.
Key drivers: sustainability and waste reduction
A major focus of the new EU packaging law is to cut packaging waste and support a circular economy. Member States will now follow consistent rules designed to reduce the total volume of packaging waste.
Targets include measurable reductions in waste per person by 2030 and beyond. The regulation also introduces harmonised requirements for recyclability, materials labelling and design to make packaging easier to sort and recycle across the bloc.
Harmonised labelling standards and mandatory information on packaging content and recycling instructions are part of the effort to improve clarity for both consumers and waste management systems.
These measures are intended to help create a shared sustainability baseline across all EU markets.
Implications for manufacturers and supply chains
For manufacturers, brand owners and e-commerce operators, the unified rules mean greater regulatory certainty but also new compliance obligations. The regulation covers all stages of the packaging lifecycle — from design and material choice to reuse, recycling and disposal.
Companies that sell into the EU must prepare for these changes, including how they document compliance and meet deadlines for different requirements.
Businesses based outside the EU but selling goods into the bloc will also have to meet the new PPWR requirements. This reflects the regulation’s broad scope, affecting both domestic and international supply chains that serve EU consumers.
By replacing divergent national laws with a single EU standard, the PPWR is set to reshape how packaging is designed, labelled and managed throughout Europe.
