The global packaging industry is on the cusp of major regulatory changes as several jurisdictions roll out stricter packaging rules in 2026.

Under these reforms, producers, manufacturers, importers and retailers will face new requirements around packaging design, recyclability, labelling, waste-management responsibility and extended producer responsibility (EPR).

Companies operating globally will need to adapt quickly to ensure compliance and avoid disruption.

EU regulation mandates recyclability and labelling from august 2026

In the European Union, the Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste — known as Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) — came into force in February 2025 and becomes fully applicable from 12 August 2026.

The PPWR replaces the previous directive (94/62/EC) and introduces a unified EU-wide legal framework for all packaging entering the market.

Key obligations under the new regulation include:

• Packaging placed on the EU market must comply with strict sustainability and recyclability standards.
• Food-contact packaging must meet limits on harmful substances — for example, certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will be banned above specific thresholds.
• All packaging must carry harmonised labelling and marking to support proper sorting, recycling or reuse.

The regulation aims to reduce packaging waste, promote reuse, boost high-quality recycling, and support the transition to a circular economy across the EU.

For multinational businesses, the PPWR means that even imported or third-country packaging must comply with those new requirements starting August 2026.

UK expands extended producer responsibility under pEPR from 2026

In the United Kingdom, the revised Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 under the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) regime came into effect in 2025, with the full operational framework ramping up into 2026.

From 1 April 2025 onwards, businesses that supply or import packaging above certain thresholds must register, report detailed data on the packaging they place on the market, and — from 2026 — pay fees based on the amount, material and recyclability of the packaging.

Under the pEPR model, producers now bear the full cost of collecting, sorting, recycling or disposing of household packaging.

Fees will be modulated: packaging that is easier to recycle or reuse will generally incur lower costs, while hard-to-recycle materials will attract higher fees.

Businesses must already collect packaging data, assess recyclability and register with the regulator.

Businesses face a new compliance landscape worldwide

For global manufacturers, retailers and suppliers, 2026 marks a turning point. Whether operating in the EU, UK or exporting to either market, entities must re-evaluate packaging design, supply chains, labelling and waste-management obligations.

Under the EU’s PPWR, nearly all packaging materials will be subject to stricter rules, including bans on certain substances, mandatory recyclability, and harmonised labelling.

In the UK, companies that previously avoided responsibility for packaging disposal costs now face a complete shift: they must track, report and pay for end-of-life packaging waste under pEPR.

These regulatory changes will likely influence material choices (e.g. favouring recyclable or compostable materials), prompt redesign of packaging formats, and raise the importance of sustainable packaging planning early in product development.

Global supply-chain actors should audit their current packaging, supply and import practices now — and prepare for new compliance frameworks that kick in during 2026.