Find US, EU, UK, CA, & AU requirements
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) 2025/40 is applicable from 12 August 2026. That said, the PPWR contains many requirements concerning labelling, documentation, EPR, and other aspects that only start to apply years later.
This guide serves as a timeline for PPWR requirements and their respective dates.
Methodology
Step 1: I mapped out all the articles mentioning a date*
Step 2: I determined if the requirement is relevant to either:
- Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and other economic operators, or
- EU Commission or Member States
Step 3: The respective PPWR requirements tied to a particular date were added to one of the two tables below
*Note that the table contains the dates identified during this stage. I cannot guarantee that I identified every single article or requirement tied to a specific date.
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PPWR Requirements
This section lists requirements for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and other economic operators for which we found that the application date is set in the future, with respect to the day of publication of this guide.
This includes substance restrictions, labelling, minimum amount of recycled content, and other requirements. Note that we list the requirements in chronological order.
| Article | Date/s | Summary |
| Article 5 – Requirements for substances in packaging | 12 August 2026 | Food-contact packaging should not contain PFAS in a concentration above the value listed in Article 5(5). |
| Article 12 – Labelling of packaging | 12 February 2027 | It should be possible to identify packaging included in an EPR scheme via a symbol in a QR code or other technology, as listed in Article 12(9). |
| Article 32 – Refill obligation for the takeaway sector | 12 February 2027 | Final distributors that work in the HORECA sector (e.g., beverage, take-away), should set up a system that allows consumers to bring their containers to be filled. |
| Article 9 – Compostable packaging | 12 February 2028 | Packaging and sticky labels listed in Article 9 should be compatible with the standard for composting in industrially controlled conditions in bio-waste treatment facilities and other listed requirements. |
| Article 9 – Compostable packaging | 12 February 2028 | Some types of packaging, as listed in Article 9(3), should be designed for material recycling in accordance with the requirements of Article 6. |
| Article 24 – Obligation related to excessive packaging | 12 February 2028 | Economic operators must comply with the empty space ratio and other requirements set by Article 24(4). |
| Article 33 – Re-use offer obligation for the take-away sector | 12 February 2028 | Final distributors should provide consumers with the option of getting their food in re-useable packaging. |
| Article 55 – Information on prevention and management of packaging waste | 12 August 2028 or from the date of application of the relevant provision of Article 12 | Producers should provide information concerning the impact of littering, in particular concerning plastic carrier bags. |
| Article 12 – Labelling of packaging | 12 August 2028 or 24 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing acts adopted pursuant to paragraphs 6 or 7 | Packaging should be marked with a harmonised label that includes information on the material composition. |
| Article 12 – Labelling of packaging | 12 August 2028 or 24 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act adopted pursuant to paragraph 6 | The label containing information on the share of recycled content, when used on packaging subject to the requirements of Article 7, should comply with the requirements set in Article 12(4). |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 1 January 2029 or 24 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act referred to in paragraph 8 | The requirements concerning recycled content in packaging should comply with the implementing act adopted pursuant to paragraph 8. |
| Article 12 – Labelling of packaging | 12 February 2029 or 30 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act adopted pursuant to paragraph 6 | Reusable packaging should include a label that informs the user that the packaging is reusable, according to the requirements set in Article 12(2). |
| Article 33 – Re-use offer obligation for the take-away sector | 2030 | Final distributors should offer at least 10% of products for sale in reusable packaging. |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 1 January 2030 | Innovative packaging that does not comply with recyclability requirements may still be sold in some cases, as explained in point 10 of Article 6. |
| Article 10 – Packaging minimisation | 1 January 2030 | Manufacturers and importers should ensure that their packaging is designed in order to minimise its weight and volume. |
| Article 25 – Restrictions on use of certain packaging formats | 1 January 2030 | Economic operators should not supply packaging listed in Annex V. |
| Article 28 – Obligations related to refill | 1 January 2030 | Final distributors listed in Article 28(5) should provide refill stations. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2030 | Economic operators that use packaging listed in Article 29(1), such as boxes, trays, plastic crates, should ensure that at least 40% of such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2030 | Economic operators that use packaging listed in Article 29(2) should ensure that such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2030 | Economic operators that use packaging listed in Article 29(1) to transport products to another economic operator within the same EU country should ensure that such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2030 | Economic operators that use packaging listed in Article 29(5) should ensure that at least 10% of such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2030 | Final distributors of beverage products should ensure that at least 10% of such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. |
| Article 30 – Rules on the calculation of the achievement of the re-use targets | 1 January 2030 or 18 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act referred to in paragraph 3 | It becomes compulsory to demonstrate the achievement of the re-use targets. |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 1 January 2030 or 24 months from the date of entry into force of the delegated acts adopted pursuant to the first subparagraph of paragraph 4 | Packaging is to be considered recyclable if it is designed for material recycling, as explained in point 2(a) of Article 6. |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 1 January 2030 or 24 months from the entry into force of the delegated acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 4 | Packaging cannot be supplied unless it is recyclable within grades A, B, or C (see Table 3 of Annex II). |
| Article 24 – Obligation related to excessive packaging | 1 January 2030 or 3 years from the entry into force of the implementing acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 2 | Economic operators must comply with the maximum empty space ratio and other requirements set by Article 24(1). |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 1 January 2030 or 3 years from the date of entry into force of the implementing act referred to in paragraph 8 | Plastic parts of packaging should contain the amount of recycled content as listed in Article 7(1). |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 1 January 2035 or five years from the date of entry into force of the implementing acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 5 | Packaging is to be considered recyclable if, when it becomes waste, it can be collected according to the requirements of point 2(b) of Article 6. |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 1 January 2038 | Packaging should not be supplied unless s it is recyclable within grades A or B (see Table 3 of Annex II). |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 1 January 2040 | Plastic parts of packaging should contain the amount of recycled content as listed in Article 7(2). |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2040 | Economic operators that use packaging listed in Article 29(1) should ensure that at least 70% of such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2040 | Economic operators that use packaging listed in Article 29(5) should ensure that at least 25 % of such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2040 | Final distributors of beverage products should ensure that at least 40% of such packaging is reusable within a re-use system. |
Commission / Member State Deadlines
This section lists requirements for the European Commission and EU member states for which we found a future application date. As in the previous section of this guide, I listed the requirements that we found in chronological order.
1. For the Commission, this includes the adoption of delegated or implementing acts for specific requirements, the creation of reports and guidelines, and more.
2. For EU member states, this includes ensuring that certain requirements are fulfilled, setting up penalties, and more.
| Article | Date/s | Summary |
| Article 12 – Labelling of packaging | 12 August 2026 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts to establish the requirements of a harmonised label, according to the provisions of Article 12(6). |
| Article 12 – Labelling of packaging | 12 August 2026 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts to establish requirements for identifying the material composition of the packaging referred to in Article 12(1). |
| Article 13 – Labelling of waste receptacles for the collection of packaging waste | 12 August 2026 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts to establish harmonised labels for waste receptacles. |
| Article 5 – Requirements for substances in packaging | 31 December 2026 | The Commission should prepare a report to determine the extent to which substances of concern in packaging impact safety and other factors. |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 31 December 2026 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts concerning the calculation of recycled content as set in Article 7(3). |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 31 December 2026 | The Commission should adopt delegated acts concerning sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies. |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 31 December 2026 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts concerning recycled content collected in a third country. |
| Article 10 – Packaging minimisation | 12 February 2027 | The Commission should request the European standardisation organisations to draft harmonised standards concerning packaging minimisation requirements. |
| Article 11 – Reusable packaging | 12 February 2027 | The Commission should adopt a delegated act that establishes a minimum number of rotations of reusable packaging. |
| Article 25 – Restrictions on use of certain packaging formats | 12 February 2027 | The Commission should provide guidelines that explain the content of Annex V in more detail. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 12 February 2027 | The Commission should publish guidelines on the products covered by Article 29(6) and 29(7). |
| Article 31 – Reporting to the competent authorities on re-use targets | 12 February 2027 | The Commission should establish a European observatory on re-use, which should monitor the implementation of certain measures. |
| Article 43 – Prevention of packaging waste | 12 February 2027 | The Commission should establish a correction factor that takes into account the increase or decrease in tourism. |
| Article 56 – Reporting to the Commission | 12 February 2027 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts establishing rules for the calculation wasting and other information listed in Article 56(7). |
| Article 68 – Penalties | 12 February 2027 | Member states should set the penalties for infringing the rules set by the Regulation. |
| Article 68 – Penalties | 12 February 2027 | Member states should notify the Commission of the penalties that have been set up. |
| Article 30 – Rules on the calculation of the achievement of the re-use targets | 30 June 2027 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts to calculate the re-use targets set in Article 29. |
| Article 44 – Register of producers | August 2027 (or within 18 months of the date of entry into force of the first implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 44(14)) | Each member state should create a national register to monitor compliance of producers with the requirements set out in Chapter VIII – Management of packaging and packaging waste. |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 1 January 2028 | The Commission should adopt delegated acts to establish design for recycling criteria and recyclability performance grades, and other grades. |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 1 January 2028 | The Commission should assess the need for derogations concerning some of the requirements set in Article 7. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2028 | The Commission should adopt delegated acts that establish reporting requirements to as set in Article 29(12). |
| Article 50 – Deposit and return systems | 1 January 2028 | The Commission should assess how to implement this article. |
| Article 8 – Biobased feedstock in plastic packaging | 12 February 2028 | The Commission should review the technological development and environmental performance of biobased plastic packaging and lay down requirements for biobased feedstock in plastic packaging, if necessary. |
| Article 24 – Obligation related to excessive packaging | 12 February 2028 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts concerning the calculation of the empty space ratio in packaging, and other requirements set in Article 24(2). |
| Article 13 – Labelling of waste receptacles for the collection of packaging waste | 12 August 2028 or 30 months from the adoption of the implementing acts referred to in paragraph 2 | Member states should ensure that harmonised labels are correctly affixed on waste receptacles. |
| Article 50 – Deposit and return systems | 1 January 2029 | Member states should ensure the separate collection of at least 90% of the packaging listed in Article 50(1). |
| Article 50 – Deposit and return systems | 1 January 2029 | Member states should ensure that the minimum requirements listed in Annex X are fulfilled. |
| Article 43 – Prevention of packaging waste | 2030 | Member states should reduce the per-capita packaging waste 5% by 2030. |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 1 January 2030 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts to establish the methodology for the recycled-at-scale assessment and other procedures. |
| Article 12 – Labelling of packaging | 1 January 2030 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts to set requirements for the identification of substances of concern. |
| Article 63 – Green public procurement | 12 February 2030 | The Commission should adopt implementing acts to incentivise environmentally sustainable packaging. |
| Article 5 – Requirements for substances in packaging | 12 August 2030 | The Commission should assess if PFAS restrictions listed in Article 5 must be modified. |
| Article 52 – Recycling targets and promotion of recycling | 31 December 2030 | Member stats should ensure that the recycling targets set in Article 52 are achieved. |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 12 February 2032 | The Commission should review the implementation of the minimum percentage of recycled content requirements set for 2030. |
| Article 7 – Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 12 February 2032 | The Commission should set targets to increase the use of recycled content other than plastics, if appropriate. |
| Article 24 – Obligation related to excessive packaging | 12 February 2032 | The Commission should assess whether additional empty space ratios requirements should be set. |
| Article 25 – Restrictions on use of certain packaging formats | 12 February 2032 | The Commission should consider alternative packaging solutions for contact-sensitive packaging. |
| Article 34 – Plastic carrier bags | 12 February 2032 | The Commission should prepare a report and present a proposal, if necessary, on reduction targets for plastic carrier bags. |
| Article 43 – Prevention of packaging waste | 12 February 2032 | The Commission should review the targets and present a report to the European Parliament. |
| Article 52 – Recycling targets and promotion of recycling | 12 February 2032 | The Commission should review the targets listed in Article 52(1) and present a report to the European Parliament. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | December 2032 | Member states should provide data to the Commission on impact assessment of the re-use targets. |
| Article 5 – Requirements for substances in packaging | 12 August 2033 | The Commission should assess whether recycling criteria helped reducing substance of concern in packaging. |
| Article 29 – Re-use targets | 1 January 2034 | The Commission should draft a report reviewing the implementation of the 2030 targets. |
| Article 69 – Evaluation | 12 August 2034 | The Commission should evaluate the impact of the PPWR on the internal market and the environmental sustainability of packaging. |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 2035 | The Commission may review and make a proposal to update the minimum thresholds for packaging to be considered recycled. |
| Article 43 – Prevention of packaging waste | 2035 | Member states should reduce the per-capita packaging waste 10% by 2035. |
| Article 6 – Recyclable packaging | 1 January 2035 | The Commission should review the exceptions set in paragraph 11 and make a proposal to update them, if necessary. |
| Article 43 – Prevention of packaging waste | 2040 | Member states should reduce the per-capita packaging waste 15% by 2040. |
FAQ
When does the PPWR apply?
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) 2025/40 applies from 12 August 2026.
When is the Packaging Directive repealed?
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC is repealed from 12 August 2026. However, as explained in Article 70 of the PPWR, some parts of its articles will continue to apply until a later date:
1. Article 8(2), which concerns “Marking and identification system”, should apply until 30 months from the date of entry into force of the implementing act adopted according to Article 12(6) of the PPWR
2. Article 9(1) and 9(2), which concern “Essential requirements”, should apply until 31 December 2029
3. Article 5(2), and 5(3), which concern “Reuse” should apply until 31 December 2028
4. Articles 6(1), and Article 6a, which concern “Recovery and recycling” and “Rules on the calculation of the attainment of the targets” respectively, should apply until 31 December 2028
4. Some parts of Article 12, which concern “Information systems and reporting”, should apply until 31 December 2028 and December 2029, respectively.
You can find the details in Article 70 of the PPWR, which also sets out other transitional provisions.
What regulations and directives are amended by the PPWR?
Chapter XII of the PPWR amends the following directives and regulations:
a. Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020
b. Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904
We understand that, in general, the amendments apply from 12 August 2026, as there are no other dates specified in Chapter XII.
However, according to Article 71 – Entry into force and application, the amendments concerning Part B of the Annex of the Single-Use Plastics Directive should apply from 12 February 2029.
