The European Commission published a proposal for a new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in November 2022 to address the environmental impacts of the packaging industry. When the regulation takes effect, it will introduce several new requirements for the types of packaging that can be placed on the EU market, covering aspects from recyclability to chemical safety and reduction of unnecessary packaging.
While its final formulation is still not fully certain, the overarching goal of the new PPWR is clear: ensuring that all packaging is either reusable or recyclable in a commercially viable way by 2030. Measurlabs offers a range of laboratory testing services to help ensure materials fulfill these and other criteria specified in the regulation.
What will the requirements be under the new PPWR?
The original PPWR proposal included ambitious reuse targets that were largely dropped after facing scrutiny from the industry. In its current form, as adopted by the European Parliament in April 2024, the PPWR places a larger emphasis on recyclability and the reduction of unnecessary packaging. Some of the requirements include:1
Minimizing the presence of substances of concern and the environmental impact of microplastics released by packaging.
This includes a ban on the use of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in food contact materials.
Most packaging materials, including paper and plastic, will have to fulfill strict recyclability requirements.
The weight and volume of packaging must be limited to the minimum required to retain functionality.
Minimum recycled content quotas will be introduced for plastic packaging – including food contact materials – by 2040.
Certain single-use packaging will be banned from 2030, including very light plastic bags and packaging for miniature toiletries, fresh fruit and vegetables, and individual portions of sauces, condiments, sugar, and other similar food products.
Takeaway food and beverage distributors will have to offer consumers the option to bring their own container and aim to offer 10% of products in reusable packaging by 2030.
Compostable and biodegradable packaging will be limited to applications where biodegradability brings about genuine benefits (e.g. tea bags, coffee filters, and sticky labels for fruits and vegetables). Such materials must decompose safely and effectively in typical compost conditions.
Fulfilling the requirements of the PPWR hinges on the development of highly safe and functional, yet recyclable or reusable materials. Balancing some of the requirements, such as increasing the use of recycled plastic while ensuring the safety of food-grade packaging, will require increased investments into research and development at the company level, as well as throughout the recycling system.
Packaging testing to assess PPWR compliance
The new PPWR is expected to be adopted towards the end of 2024, and the requirements it sets for packaging will take effect 18 months later. While this gives packaging manufacturers a fair amount of time to prepare for the regulation, taking proactive steps toward compliance now helps avoid costly last-minute changes to production processes later.
Our laboratory testing services can facilitate the development of PPWR-compliant packaging solutions. Some examples include:
Paper and board recyclability testing to ensure that fiber-based packaging can be recovered efficiently in standard paper mills.
PFAS testing to ensure concentrations do not exceed specified limits.
Re-usability testing for plastic food packaging to show that it should not be classified as single-use plastic.
Biodegradability and compostability testing to verify that compostable plastics can be disposed of through the bio-waste stream.
You can inquire about these and additional testing options using the form below. Our experts reply to queries within one working day.
References:
1 Press release on the European Parliament’s adoption of the PPWR and provisional political agreement on the PPWR.