Learn About PPWR Legislation (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation)
Learn everything your business needs to know about the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
The short version
- The PPWR is central to the European Commission’s circular economy agenda.
- This legislation impacts the entire packaging supply chain, including labels and inks.
- It is designed to implement stricter sustainability, recyclability and reuse standards.
What do I need to know about the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation?
The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is a key part of the European Commission's circular economy agenda. The regulation impacts the entire packaging supply chain, including labels, which play a crucial role in a package's sustainability. The regulation is built on five pillars—recyclability, compostability, recycled content, packaging reuse, and eco-modulation, also known as extended producer responsibility (EPR). These five pillars will increasingly influence how packaging is designed, labeled, and managed across the EU.
When Will The PPWR Be Implemented In The EU?
PPWR entered into force on February 11, 2025. However, most of its measures will not become applicable until August 12, 2026.
The future of circular packaging starts with the PPWR
The PPWR is fundamentally about designing packaging that can be recycled into high-quality raw materials. The regulation requires all packaging on the market to be fully recyclable, meaning it must be designed for quality material recycling, and be able to be collected, sorted, and recycled at scale without contaminating other waste streams. Starting in 2030, packaging will be evaluated and given a recyclability grade of A, B, or C. Grade A packaging must be at least 95% recyclable, while Grade B must be at least 80%. Any packaging scoring below 70% will be considered non-recyclable and banned from the market. By 2035, the European Commission may update these requirements based on advancements in sorting and recycling technologies.
Get PPWR-Ready With Polytag
Polytag works with businesses to be PPWR-ready by implementing our unique tag-and-trace Invisible UV Tags and Smart QR Codes to measure real-time recycling data for all packaging products. Under the PPWR, all packaging used on the EU market must be designed for recycling (DfR) by January 2030; and EPR (extended producer responsibility) fees must be eco-modulated based on an EU-wide recyclability performance score. Start working with Polytag to optimise your value chain now.
The dates
- February 11, 2025entered into force
- August 12, 2026most measures applicable
- January 2030designed for recycling (DfR)
- 2035requirements may be updated
The PPWR enables circularity across value chains by introducing clear, data-led metrics, such as a producer’s measured recycled content, leading to measurable progress. The PPWR will unlock financial savings for businesses. Under the new Eco-modulated fee system, the fees companies pay for their packaging will vary based on its recyclability and recycled content—recycle more, pay less.
More legislation guides
ESPR
EU · phased in until summer 2026
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
ESPR is a cornerstone of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan.
In forceEPR
UK · live as of 2025
Extended Producer Responsibility
EPR policies exist globally, including in the EU, UK, Canada, Australia and the US.
AdoptedSB54
California · targets by 2032
Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act
Designed to shift the financial and operational burden from local government to companies that produce packaging.
AdoptedDRS
UK · launches 1 October 2027
UK Deposit Return Scheme
Exchange for Change has been appointed to administer the DRS ahead of its launch on 1 October 2027.