5 things to know about the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

Article updated: April 2024

To answer your most pressing questions about PPWR, we recently ran a Big Ideas webinar, including a live Q&A with our experts which is available to watch on-demand. Below we’ve put together some common questions and answers so you can better understand this important regulatory development and how it impacts your packaging choices today.

1. What is the PPWR?

The PPWR is a European Union regulation to reduce packaging pollution and help build a circular economy for packaging. It is currently in preliminary agreement, and once approved it will apply throughout EU territory and for any imported packaging. This new EU legislation will:

• Set targets to reduce packaging waste.
• Set specific design requirements for recycle-ready packaging and the use of Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) content.
• Set “eco-modulation” criteria for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes that reward more sustainable packaging.

In short, this means all packaging will need to be recyclable by design and in practice, and that brands will need to incorporate more post-consumer recycled (PCR) content into their plastic packaging. This will help reduce waste and create a stronger market for recycled plastics and innovative packaging. It also encourages light-weighting of packaging, plus helps appropriate consumer disposal/recycling through new and clearer labelling.

There are also rewards for more sustainable packaging through eco-modulated EPR schemes, with the regulation suggesting lower fees based on recyclability. All in all, it’s an ambitious and positive move to reduce waste and advance a circular economy for packaging.

2. What are the timelines for this transition?

If approved, the new regulation would mean that by 2030 all packaging on the EU market must be designed to be recyclable (i.e. recycle-ready), with a few exceptions such as healthcare packaging and packaging for infant and baby nutrition. And a grading scale for recyclability will be introduced.

Then by 2035, you’ll need to demonstrate your packaging is recycled at scale which requires having the appropriate recycling infrastructure in place.

However, mandatory eco-modulated EPR fees across EU countries will already incentivize recycle-ready packaging through lower fees as early as 2025. And some countries already have lower fees for recyclability today. This means brands could save on EPR fees if they switch to recycle-ready solutions now.

In terms of the process timeline for the PPWR, it’s already underway. Currently there is a preliminary agreement and it's likely to become law as early as the end of 2024. So, we will could see the PPWR being applied starting from 2025.

3. What are the regulations for post-consumer recycled (PCR) material use?

Based on the current proposal, mandatory use of PCR in plastic packaging will come into force from 2030. And those targets will increase again starting in 2040. You can see the proposed PCR targets here:

There are, of course, some exemptions, such as healthcare packaging. But the headline is, each unit of packaging that contains plastic must use a minimum percentage of PCR plastic content from 2030. This adds a layer of complexity for packaging providers to consider, especially for brands that need food-contact packaging, which in most cases means PCR sourced through chemical recycling.

As result of these targets, we expect a surge in coming years in different recycling technologies and PCR solutions for a wide range of applications.

4. How are Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees changing?

EPR is a financial contribution paid by brand owners for packaging they put on the market to cover the cost of collecting, sorting, and recycling packaging. EPR fees are based on packaging weight and type of material, ranging from ~200 to 2,000+ €/tonne and apply across all packaging materials (glass, metals, paper, plastic, etc.)

Most EU countries already have an ERP scheme, and some already incentivize recycle-ready packaging and the use of PCR through lower fees today. For those countries yet to introduce one, eco-modulated EPR systems will be mandatory by 2025 under the PPWR proposal.

Overall, eco-modulated EPR should incentivize more sustainable packaging choices and fund the expansion of recycling infrastructure, helping to grow the circular economy.

5. How can Amcor help you prepare?

We can help you get ready to meet the new legislation. Five years ago, we made a pledge to develop all our packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025, and to significantly increase our use of recycled material. We’ve made significant progress since, with over 80% of our solutions now meeting design for recyclability requirements. And our R&D team is working hard to address the remaining percentage of our portfolio.

This makes us uniquely positioned to offer more sustainable packaging solutions to our customers across plastic, paper, and aluminum. Our team can advise you on recyclable paper-based packaging, aluminum-based solutions, or recycle-ready mono-PE or mono-PP packaging. Even for challenging product applications like fresh meat or heat treated retort packaging, we have solutions.

Our team can also help you evaluate the option to include food-grade recycled content. We can advise you on bio-based materials. Plus we can look at ways to lightweight your packaging and use less material overall.

Explore some of our more sustainable packaging options here:

Want to learn more about PPWR? Watch our latest webinar for all the updates.

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