Timeline
What lands when
Filter by the year you are planning for, or by your role in the chain.
Role
Year
- 11 February 2025In force
Regulation enters into force
PPWR is in force. Packaging placed on the market from this date is judged against the Article 11 reusability criteria if you call it reusable.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Distributor · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 12 August 2026In force
Main body of rules starts to apply
General application date under Article 71: substance limits, operator duties, technical documentation and EU declarations of conformity become binding.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Distributor · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 12 August 2026In force
PFAS limits in food-contact packaging
Food-contact packaging above 25 ppb for any single PFAS, 250 ppb for the sum, or 50 ppm total fluorine may not be placed on the market.
Producer / manufacturer · ImporterRead the detail → - 12 August 2026In force
Producer registration and reporting
Be registered in each market before you first place packaging there, and be able to report volumes annually by 1 June.
Producer / manufacturer · ImporterRead the detail → - 12 August 2026In force
Enforcement powers switch on
Market surveillance authorities may check packaging and require the operator to put an end to non-compliance; if documentation breaches persist, packaging can be prohibited, recalled or withdrawn.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Distributor · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 12 February 2027Under 2 years
National penalty rules in place
Each member state must have laid down effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties for infringements and notified the Commission; administrative fines are required for breaches of Articles 24 to 29.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Distributor · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 12 February 2027Under 2 years
Consumers' own containers in hospitality
Final distributors of take-away hot and cold drinks and ready-prepared food must let consumers fill their own container.
Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 12 February 2028Under 2 years
Compostability required for named formats
Sticky produce labels, very light carrier bags and — where national rules require — tea and coffee single-serve units must be industrially compostable.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 12 February 2028Under 2 years
Empty space in sales packaging minimised
Empty space in sales packaging must be reduced to the necessary minimum, using the methodology set out for the empty-space ratio.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · DistributorRead the detail → - 12 February 2028Under 2 years
Reusable take-away option offered
Final distributors in the take-away sector must offer consumers the option of reusable packaging.
Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 12 August 2028Under 2 years
Harmonised composition labels on packaging
Packaging must carry the harmonised material-composition label, or 24 months after the relevant implementing act if that is later. Artwork must be updated across the range.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 1 January 2029Longer term
90% separate collection of drinks containers
Member states must separately collect 90% a year of single-use plastic bottles and metal beverage containers up to three litres, generally through deposit return systems.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 1 January 2029Longer term
Recycled-content calculation rules bind
The calculation and verification rules for recycled content apply, or 24 months from the relevant implementing act if that is later.
Producer / manufacturer · ImporterRead the detail → - 12 February 2029Longer term
Reusable packaging labelling
Reusable packaging must carry a reusability label and a QR code or other data carrier, or 30 months from the relevant implementing act if that is later.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 1 January 2030Longer term
Design-for-recycling grade required
All packaging must reach recyclability grade A, B or C, or 24 months after the delegated act setting the criteria if that is later.
Producer / manufacturer · ImporterRead the detail → - 1 January 2030Longer term
First recycled-content targets for plastic packaging
30% for contact-sensitive PET, 10% for other contact-sensitive plastics, 30% for single-use plastic beverage bottles, 35% for other plastic packaging — averaged per plant per year.
Producer / manufacturer · ImporterRead the detail → - 1 January 2030Longer term
Minimisation and 50% empty-space cap
Packaging weight and volume must be the minimum necessary, and grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging must stay within a 50% empty-space ratio.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · DistributorRead the detail → - 1 January 2030Longer term
Annex V formats banned
The single-use packaging formats and uses listed in Annex V may no longer be placed on the market.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 1 January 2030Longer term
First reuse targets
40% reusable transport and sales packaging used for transport, 10% grouped packaging, 10% beverages; distributors over 400 m² give 10% of sales area to refill.
Producer / manufacturer · Distributor · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 31 December 2030Longer term
5% packaging waste reduction per person
Member states must cut packaging waste generated per person by 5% against 2018, and reach 70% overall packaging-waste recycling.
Producer / manufacturer · Importer · Distributor · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail → - 1 January 2035Longer term
Recycled at scale requirement
Packaging must also meet the recycled-at-scale condition: collection, sorting and recycling capacity must actually exist for the format.
Producer / manufacturer · ImporterRead the detail → - 1 January 2038Longer term
Only grades A and B accepted
Grade C is no longer sufficient — packaging must be recyclable at grade A or B.
Producer / manufacturer · ImporterRead the detail → - 1 January 2040Longer term
Higher recycled-content targets
50% contact-sensitive PET, 25% other contact-sensitive plastics, 65% single-use plastic beverage bottles, 65% other plastic packaging.
Producer / manufacturer · ImporterRead the detail → - 1 January 2040Longer term
Higher reuse targets (endeavour basis)
70% transport and sales packaging used for transport, 25% grouped packaging, 40% beverages.
Producer / manufacturer · Distributor · Retailer / final distributorRead the detail →