Regulation (EU) No. 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste—known as the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation)—is the new European framework promoted as part of circular economy policies.

The goal of the regulation is to transform packaging management throughout its entire life cycle (from design to recycling), reducing the use of virgin raw materials, minimizing waste, and steering the market toward a sustainable, circular, and competitive industrial model.

Timeline and Entry into Force

• January 22, 2025: Official publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
• February 11, 2025: Entry into force of the Regulation.
• August 12, 2026: Full implementation of the provisions in all Member States.

Macro-Objectives by 2030

By 2030, the PPWR aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, limiting negative impacts on the environment and health through four pillars:

• Prevention: Reduce the overall amount of packaging waste generated.
• Reuse: Prevent waste by encouraging the adoption of reuse and refill systems.
• Recyclability: Ensure that all packaging placed on the EU market is recyclable in an economically sustainable manner.
• Recycled Plastic: Increase the percentage of recycled plastic in packaging by supporting the market for secondary raw materials.

Stakeholders

The PPWR Regulation directly affects a wide range of entities throughout the entire production and distribution chain:

• Manufacturers and Packagers: Packaging manufacturers and companies that place packaged products on the market, including private-label goods.
• Importers: Operators who introduce packaging or packaged goods into the European market from non-EU countries.
• Distributors and Retailers: All intermediaries along the value chain, from wholesalers to retailers and e-commerce platforms.

Key Changes and Operational Restrictions

The regulation introduces a series of concrete changes regarding design, trade, and consumption:

• Specific restrictions on single-use plastics for fresh fruits and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg and for single-serving packages in food service (e.g., sauces and condiments).
• A requirement to minimize the weight and volume of packaging by limiting empty space as much as possible.
• Introduction of mandatory minimum quotas for recycled plastic in packaging by 2030 and 2040.
• Customers will have the right to use their own containers at takeout establishments at no additional cost.
• Introduction of strict thresholds to limit the presence of substances of concern, such as PFAS.

Starting August 12, 2026, packaging manufacturers must provide a DoC (Declaration of Conformity).

CEPRA can assist companies in preparing all the necessary documentation to ensure compliance with regulations and offers a comprehensive testing service at its in-house laboratory.