In August 2026, new rules under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will start applying from 12 Aug 2026 across the EU. The regulations will also help to manage different types of environmental issues caused by the packaging industry. The rules will also ensure that Europe becomes less dependent on imported fossil fuels from which plastic packaging is almost entirely made. It will also help strengthen the Single Market for packaging, facilitate cross-border businesses through common rules, and support the EU’s transition to a competitive circular economy and climate neutrality by 2050.
One of the key measures introduced in the packaging rules involves restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food-contact packaging, meaning food-contact packaging containing PFAS above strict limits can no longer be placed on the EU market. The measure is also designed to reduce exposure to so-called ‘forever chemicals’, a group of highly persistent substances that can accumulate in the environment and in the human body.
PFAS have been commonly used in food packaging such as takeaway containers, fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, bakery paper, and pizza boxes to repel water or grease. The new rules will take a step to limit the use of PFAS in food-contact packaging to protect human health while reducing the release of these harmful substances into the environment. In addition, definitions, for example, for manufacturers and producers responsible for extended producer responsibility of packaging, will now be harmonised across the EU. Certain markings and information will now also be required for packaging, ensuring that packaging manufacturers or importers can be identified and contacted as needed.
“The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is an investment in Europe’s future: it will help reduce waste, increase recycling, make food-contact packaging safer for consumers by limiting harmful substances such as PFAS, and reduce our dependence on virgin raw materials. These are essential steps towards a truly circular economy.
At the same time, the Regulation will replace fragmented national rules, which are difficult to navigate for economic operators in the internal market. But new rules also come with adjustment costs, and we have worked intensively with market operators to implement the new rules in a pragmatic and unbureaucratic way," said Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy.
By promoting a more circular economy, PPWR will help to keep valuable materials in use for longer and also increase the recovery and use of secondary raw materials within the EU. This measure will help to reduce the pressures linked to resource extraction and waste generation, along with strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of European industry through a more secure and sustainable supply of materials.
The news rules also state that from 2028, a harmonized labelling system for packaging will apply across the EU to facilitate waste-sorting, to increase efficiency in the recycling and composting waste streams, and also to save the packaging industry several billion euros over the years.
The PPWR keeps an eye on environmental as well as economic challenges. Without action, packaging waste in the EU was projected to grow by 19% by 2030, while plastic packaging waste could rise by as much as 46%. The regulation entered into force in February 2025, and its rules began to apply on a phased basis from 12 August 2026. The full application of the Regulation will contribute to a more sustainable and competitive packaging sector across the EU and to strengthening the Single Market for packaging through common rules.
The new rules set are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and environmental costs in the packaging sector, along with saving businesses substantial compliance costs in the medium term. The guidance published in March 2026 includes practical information for businesses, national authorities, and other stakeholders on the application of the new PFAS restrictions.
24 August 2026
24 August 2026
24 August 2026
24 August 2026