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Plastics Policy Tracker

Laws & policies / European Union

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

Type
Regulation
Jurisdiction
European Union
Current stage
in application
Impact
high
Last verified change
16 Sep 2026
plannedconsultationimpact assessmentproposalParliament & Counciltrilogue / negotiationadoptedpublishedin forceimplementing actsin application

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste replaces Directive 94/62/EC. It entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies from 12 August 2026. Detailed rules follow in implementing and delegated acts, with deadlines set out in the Commission's implementation timeline.

Overview checked against the official sources · review record

Timeline of verified changes

  1. 16 Sep 2026
    A public feedback period on the delegated act establishing sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies ran from 14 August 2026 to 16 September 2026; feedback is closed.
    Source quote
    frontEndStage: PLANNING_WORKFLOW; receivingFeedbackStatus: CLOSED; feedbackStartDate: 2026/08/14 10:48:59; feedbackEndDate: 2026/09/16 23:59:59 snippet: requires the Commission to create sustainability rules for plastic recycling technologies.
    Source: ec.europa.eu · Review 2026-10-14-011 · reported in Issue 1
  2. 16 Sep 2026
    The feedback period for the planned implementing act on rules for the calculation and verification of recycled content in plastic packaging ran from 14 August 2026 to 16 September 2026.
    Source quote
    Plastic packaging – harmonisation of rules for calculating and verifying recycled content in plastic packaging This act will ensure uniform rules for implementing ... calculation and verification of the percentage of recycled content in plastic packaging recovered from post-consumer plastic waste recycled and collected within the Union
    Source: ec.europa.eu · Review 2026-10-14-009 · reported in Issue 1
  3. 14 Sep 2026
    A Commission Implementing Decision on harmonised packaging and packaging waste labels under Regulation (EU) 2025/40 is planned as a Commission implementing decision (reference Ares(2026)8548456). The initiative status is active and the front-end stage is 'INIT_PLANNED'; receiving feedback is disabled, with a listed feedback start date of 14 September 2026.
    Source quote
    shortTitle: Commission Implementing Decision on harmonised packaging and packaging waste labels under Regulation (EU) 2025/40 reference: Ares(2026)8548456 foreseenActType: DEC_IMPL initiativeStatus: ACTIVE frontEndStage: INIT_PLANNED; receivingFeedbackStatus: DISABLED; feedbackStartDate: 2026/09/14 16:56:00; feedbackEndDate: None
    Source: ec.europa.eu · Review 2026-10-14-010 · reported in Issue 1
  4. 10 Sep 2026
    The feedback period for the implementing rules on packaging and packaging waste opened on 6 August 2026 and closed on 10 September 2026.
    Source quote
    frontEndStage: ISC_WORKFLOW; receivingFeedbackStatus: CLOSED; feedbackStartDate: 2026/08/06 15:24:00; feedbackEndDate: 2026/09/10 23:59:59
    Source: ec.europa.eu · Review 2026-10-14-005 · reported in Issue 1
  5. 14 Aug 2026
    A feedback period on a planned implementing act ran from 14 August 2026 to 16 September 2026.
    Source quote
    foreseenActType: DEC_IMPL initiativeStatus: ACTIVE frontEndStage: PLANNING_WORKFLOW; receivingFeedbackStatus: CLOSED; feedbackStartDate: 2026/08/14 10:48:30; feedbackEndDate: 2026/09/16 23:59:59
    Source: ec.europa.eu · Review 2026-10-14-003 · reported in Issue 1
  6. 12 Aug 2026 → in application
    The Regulation became applicable across the EU on 12 August 2026; Article 67(5) applies from 12 February 2029.
    Source quote
    It shall apply from 12 August 2026. However, Article 67(5) shall apply from 12 February 2029.
    Source: publications.europa.eu · Review seed-eu-ppwr-004
  7. Feb 2026
    The Commission adopted a delegated act exempting economic operators using pallet wrappings and straps from the 100% reuse targets for transport packaging.
    Source quote
    A delegated act exempting economic operators using pallet wrappings and straps from the 100% reuse targets for transport packaging was adopted in February 2026.
    Source: green-forum.ec.europa.eu · Review seed-eu-ppwr-003
  8. 11 Feb 2025 → in force
    The Regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025.
    Source quote
    Status: In force since 11 February 2025
    Source: environment.ec.europa.eu · Review seed-eu-ppwr-002
  9. 22 Jan 2025 → published
    Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste was published in the Official Journal on 22 January 2025.
    Source quote
    Official Journal of the European Union EN L series 2025/40 22.1.2025 REGULATION (EU) 2025/40 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste
    Source: publications.europa.eu · Review seed-eu-ppwr-001