As part of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, clear goals have been set: reducing excessive packaging and packaging waste, making packaging reusable and recyclable, and increasing the share of recycled content in plastic packaging.
With the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the EU is raising the bar significantly. By 2030, all plastic packaging must contain at least 10% recyclate, and for some types this rises to 35%. In addition, all packaging must be designed to be recyclable at scale. Packaging that does not meet these requirements by 2030 may be banned.
What does this mean for your packaging in practice?
The criteria the EU will use to determine whether a package is recyclable at scale will be set no later than January 1, 2028. That may seem a while away, but expectations are that these criteria will largely align with existing guidelines such as RecyClass, KIDV, or FostPlus. It’s smart to start checking now whether your packaging already meets these guidelines.
The mandatory recycled-content requirements will also apply from 2030. By December 31, 2026, the EU will publish the method for calculating these percentages and the sustainability criteria for recycling technologies. Still, it’s wise to get ahead of the curve and start addressing the questions you’re facing, for example:
- What types of recyclate will you need?
- What does this mean if your packaging is in contact with food?
- Which recycling technologies will be applied?
- What recyclate can I use in my packaging?
- How will this affect my packaging design?
- Which material innovations can help?
- These are just some of the related questions we’ll try to answer in our next webinar on November 25.
Developing more sustainable packaging solutions together
Whether you want to comply with the PPWR, reduce your ecological footprint, or simply package smarter and more efficiently—we’re happy to think along with you. We’ll keep you updated on the latest developments via our newsletters and website. Not receiving our quarterly newsletter yet? Sign up here. Or contact us for a no-obligation consultation or an assessment of your current packaging portfolio: info@hordijk.nl.