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ARTICLE · 16 SEPTEMBER 2026

The EU Packaging And Packaging Waste Regulation: What Businesses Need To Know

CMS Wistrand
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The European Union has fundamentally transformed packaging regulation with the adoption of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), replacing the existing Packaging Directive...

European UnionEnvironment
Akin Aslan
Akin Aslan
Rik Bongers
Rik Bongers

On 19 December 2024, the EU adopted the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) (Regulation (EU) 2025/40), marking a fundamental shift in how packaging is regulated across the Union. The new regulation introduces a comprehensive and applicable framework for packaging across all EU member states, replacing the current Packaging Directive (94/62/EC), and is intended to reduce the environmental impact of packaging while ensuring a harmonised internal market.

The scope of the PPWR is broad, applying to all packaging in the EU market, irrespective of the material used (e.g. plastic, paper, glass, metal, or composites), the sector or the origin (whether manufactured within the EU or imported). The regulation governs the entire packaging lifecycle – from initial design and production through to end-of-life waste management and recycling.

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