Guide · Status: October 2026 · approx. 7 minutes reading time
PPWR simply explained
What the new EU Packaging Regulation means for your packaging – clearly explained, without the bureaucratic jungle.
A new packaging regulation has been in force across the entire EU since 12 August 2026: the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40). It replaces the previous EU Packaging Directive and applies directly in all member states – uniformly, without each country writing its own rules. In Germany, the Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG) superseded the previous Packaging Act on the same day.
This sounds like a lot of bureaucracy – and part of it is. The good news: the major changes are coming gradually up to 2040, and much of this primarily affects packaging manufacturers. In this guide, we explain what is changing and when, what this means for your packaging purchases and how we support you with it.
“The PPWR sounds like a lot of paragraphs – at its core, it comes down to three questions: Is your packaging recyclable, does it contain recycled material, and is it no larger than necessary? We are happy to help you with this.”
Your Nordwerk team · Advice on 04542 900470
Summary in brief
- The PPWR has been in effect throughout the EU since August 12, 2026.
- The big steps will be introduced in stages: standardised labelling from 2028, recyclability from 2030, followed by less empty space in shipping.
- Goal: less packaging waste, more recycling, more recycled material.
- We are checking our product range item by item and providing you with the relevant PPWR documentation.
- We are staying on top of things. We will also keep you informed about any future adjustments or new developments and provide you with the necessary documents for your records.
- We would be happy to send you a summary of the quantities you have purchased from us for your LUCID report. Of course, this service is free of charge.
Why does the PPWR exist?
Packaging protects goods—but it also quickly becomes waste. According to Eurostat, the EU generated about 186 kilograms of packaging waste per capita in 2022; in Germany, the figure was as high as about 227 kilograms (Federal Statistical Office). The PPWR initiative aims to reduce this mountain of waste and ensure that used packaging is turned into new packaging. To this end, it pursues three goals:
Avoid
Less material, less air in the parcel, no unnecessary outer packaging.
Close the loop
Packaging should be designed in such a way that it can actually be recycled.
Reuse raw materials
More recycled material in new packaging and more reusable solutions.
The roadmap: What applies when?
The PPWR does not take effect all at once, but in stages. Here is an overview of the most important milestones:
12 August 2026
The starting signal
The PPWR applies. Since then, limits for heavy metals in packaging and – for food packaging – strict limits for PFAS („forever chemicals“) have been in force, among other things. Producers must document the conformity of their packaging.
12 February 2028
Compostable where it makes sense
Teabags, coffee pads and fruit stickers must be industrially compostable.
12 August 2028*
Standardised labelling
EU-wide standardised symbols indicate what material packaging is made of and how to dispose of it correctly.
1 January 2030
The big step
All packaging must be designed to be recyclable, and plastic packaging requires minimum proportions of recycled material. In addition, initial reuse targets for transport packaging are taking effect – cardboard boxes are exempt from these. The 50% limit for empty space will follow as soon as the EU has defined the calculation method.
2035
Recycling on a large scale
Packaging must not only be recyclable, but actually recycled on a large scale.
2038 / 2040
The bar is being raised
From 2038, only the best recycling performance levels will be permitted, and higher recycled material and reuse quotas will apply from 2040.
* Some dates depend on when the European Commission publishes outstanding detailed rules. We keep this page up to date.
What changes for you?
Four main topics will become important for your packaging purchases:
Recyclability
From 2030, all packaging must be designed to be recyclable. Mono-materials – packaging made from a single material – have a clear advantage here because they are easy to sort and recycle.
More recycled material
From 2030, plastic packaging must contain a minimum proportion of recycled material – between 10% and 35% depending on the type of packaging, and significantly more from 2040.
Less air in the parcel
Mailing, transport and collective packaging may contain a maximum of 50% empty space in future – from 2030 at the earliest. The person filling the packaging is responsible. Finding the right box sizes is therefore more important than ever.
Clear labelling
Standardised symbols are intended to show what packaging is made of and which bin it belongs in – consistently across the entire EU.
Shipping tip: Cardboard boxes with variable heights can be adjusted to fit the goods – which saves filling material and empty space. By the way: Cardboard boxes are exempt from the reuse quotas for transport packaging.
Who is responsible for what?
The PPWR distributes obligations according to roles. Simply put, there are three parties involved:
The manufacturer
They produce the packaging (or have it produced under their own name) and ensure that it meets the requirements. They document this in an EU declaration of conformity. Important: Anyone who has packaging printed with their own brand or logo may be considered a manufacturer themselves.
The distributor
They resell packaging and check whether the labelling, manufacturer details and registration are in order.
The packer and shipper
Anyone who packs goods and sends them to customers registers and licenses their packaging via LUCID and a dual system. New since August 2026: Ready-made, unprinted mail packaging is usually already licensed by the person who first puts it into circulation in Germany.
For some of our mailing envelope series, we’ve already taken care of the system licensing for you—this is explicitly stated on the respective product page. Our FAQs on packaging law explain what you need to license yourself in each case—including for standard cardboard boxes.
Do you ship to other EU countries?
A new obligation primarily affects online retailers: Anyone who ships packaged goods directly to end customers in another EU country must appoint an authorised representative for extended producer responsibility there – in addition to registration and system participation in the respective country. This can be complex, especially for smaller shops. Find out in good time, for example from your Chamber of Commerce and Industry or your dual system.
What we do at Nordwerk to achieve this
Monomaterial as standard
Around 90% of our packaging solutions are already made of monomaterials today, making them easy to recycle.
Documents for your items
We check our product range item by item and provide the appropriate documents – PPWR confirmation or EU declaration of conformity and technical data sheet.
Sustainable alternatives
Mailing bags made from recycled material with the Blue Angel eco-label, FSC-certified paper products and industrially compostable bags.
Frequently asked questions
Many requirements will not take effect until 2028 or 2030. However, limit values for pollutants, manufacturer documentation obligations and the new rules on producer responsibility have already applied since 12 August 2026, among other things. Above all, check whether your registration and system participation are correct and whether you ship to other EU countries.
Packaging is recyclable if it is designed in such a way that it can be collected, sorted and processed into new raw material. In future, the EU will assess this in grades from A to C. It is anticipated that from 2030 all packaging must achieve at least grade C, and from 2038 at least grade B.
Not automatically. Paper and cardboard can be recycled very well. However, a thin film made from just a single plastic – ideally with recycled material – can be just as sensible depending on the application, for example because it requires less material or protects the goods better. Recyclability, material usage and product protection are the decisive factors.
Yes, fundamentally packages in online retail too: mail packaging, transport packaging and collective packaging may contain a maximum of 50% empty space in future. The obligation will take effect at the earliest from 2030 – and only once the European Commission has established the calculation method. The person who fills the packaging is responsible. Our tip: Choose boxes that match the goods. In our shop you will find many sizes, including those with variable heights.
PFAS are highly persistent industrial chemicals that accumulate in the environment – which is why they are often called "forever chemicals". Since 12 August 2026, strict limit values have applied to packaging in contact with food: 25 ppb per individual substance, 250 ppb in total and 50 ppm for PFAS overall (including polymeric PFAS).
From 12 February 2028, certain products such as tea bags, coffee pads and fruit stickers must be industrially compostable. For all other packaging, the rule is: Compostable packaging is sensible if it is also disposed of appropriately. Please feel free to ask us about our industrially compostable bags.
Yes. We review our product range item by item and provide the appropriate documentation. Get in touch with us – we will gladly send you the documentation for your items.
Even more practical answers – from LUCID and used boxes to environmental advertising – can be found in our frequently asked questions about packaging law.
Have questions about a specific item?
Our team is happy to help you – Monday to Thursday 08:00–17:00, Fridays 08:00–15:00.
Sources: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (EUR-Lex) · Federal Ministry for the Environment: Packaging Act (VerpackDG) · Osnabrück Chamber of Industry and Commerce: Overview of the PPWR · Federal Statistical Office: Packaging Waste
As of October 2026. This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
