EU Key EU regulations (direct links) Last reviewed 2026-06

PPWR — Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

Because nearly every product ships in packaging, the PPWR reaches brands that think of themselves as outside 'sustainability' regulation entirely.

What it is

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40), the PPWR, sets EU-wide requirements for packaging — including recyclability, recycled-content targets and waste reduction — and applies from August 2026, with specific measures phasing in thereafter. Among its provisions is a restriction on PFAS in food-contact packaging.

Why it matters for compliance

Its reach is unusually broad: packaging touches essentially every physical product, so the PPWR catches brands across all categories, not only those already engaged with environmental regimes. It pushes packaging decisions — materials, design, recycled content — into the compliance scope and ties them to a hard application date.

How to use it

  • Review every product’s packaging against the recyclability and content requirements.
  • Check food-contact packaging for PFAS.
  • Map which PPWR measures apply when, since provisions phase in after August 2026.
  • Fold packaging data into your product compliance records.

Good to know

The PPWR is the archetypal “wide-reach, near-term” item on a regulatory radar — anticipated, it becomes a planned packaging review; unanticipated, it becomes a scramble.

Visit the official PPWR — (EU) 2025/40 site ↗

How Conphora helps

Conphora turns obligations like these into one managed workflow — it matches each product to the rules that apply, flags the gaps, and keeps your evidence ready for retailers and authorities.

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Conphora maintains this as a neutral resource and is not affiliated with the organisation listed. Always verify obligations against the official source and seek qualified advice before acting.