Cross-border selling · Applies 12 August 2026
EU packaging rules (PPWR) from 2026
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation replaces the 1994 directive and reaches every parcel placed on the EU market.
Key facts
| Applies from | 12 August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Replaces | Directive 94/62/EC |
| Scope | All packaging placed on the EU market, regardless of material or origin |
| Direction | Recyclability, minimum recycled content, reuse and restrictions on PFAS in food-contact packaging |
| Seller impact | Packaging specifications and supplier declarations become part of the product record |
| Official source | European Commission, packaging waste and Regulation (EU) 2025/40 |
The 2026 packaging reset
The PPWR moves packaging rules from a directive implemented country by country into a regulation that applies across the EU. The direction is clear: packaging must be designed for recycling, use secondary material where required, and meet restrictions on substances such as PFAS in food-contact applications. The exact obligations phase in, so the date matters as much as the rule.
For a seller, the immediate work is data collection. Ask the packaging supplier for material composition, recycled content, recyclability evidence and food-contact declarations. A spec sheet that only states dimensions and GSM is no longer enough.
Ask suppliers for material data now
The sellers who are ready for 12 August 2026 are not waiting for a marketplace request. They have a packaging record per SKU that can answer what the material is, how much recycled content it contains, whether it can be recycled in the destination market and whether it is food-contact safe.
This record also supports the existing EPR registrations in Germany and France. The same data feeds the LUCID declaration, the French textile or packaging scheme and the PPWR evidence, so collecting it once reduces the cost of every market.
Frequently asked questions
When does the PPWR apply?
The regulation applies from 12 August 2026, replacing Directive 94/62/EC. Some obligations phase in over a longer period; check the current text for the specific requirement.
Does it apply to packaging I import from China?
It applies to packaging placed on the EU market regardless of origin. Importers and sellers need the material and compliance data from their packaging supplier.
What should I ask my packaging supplier for?
Material composition, recycled content, recyclability evidence, food-contact declarations where relevant, and any PFAS information. Keep the declarations with the product record.
Ask a compliance question
Free first answer by email. Tell us the destination, the product and the channel — we will point you to the rule and the official source. No obligation, no sales sequence.