The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces new requirements for packaging placed on the European market. As the regulation gradually comes into force, many companies have questions about their responsibilities, compliance obligations and the practical impact on their packaging. In this FAQ, we answer the most common questions about PPWR, including Declarations of Conformity (DoC), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), recyclability, labelling requirements and upcoming regulatory changes.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) aims to reduce the growing volume of packaging waste and prevent further increase by 2030. The regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025 and will generally apply from 12 August 2026, with longer transition periods applying for certain requirements.
As a packaging company, VPK is generally considered a supplier under PPWR. In certain specific situations, VPK may also be considered as a manufacturer, for example when:
What are the key topics within PPWR?
The main topics to address in the short term (2026) are:
From 2028 onwards, additional requirements will gradually become applicable, including:
VPK provides customers with technical information relating to the packaging references supplied to them. To address the requirements on Substances of Concern (SoC), VPK has established an evidence-based compliance statement based on:
A supplier must provide the manufacturer with relevant technical information for the packaging supplied. In addition, the supplier must provide available test reports on Substances of Concern (SoC).
A manufacturer uses the information provided by suppliers to prepare the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for the it places on the EU market. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the packaging complies with the applicable PPWR requirements.
A Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is a document that demonstrates compliance with the applicable PPWR requirements and allows packaging to be placed on the EU market.
The DoC:
In most cases, VPK acts as a supplier and is therefore not responsible for preparing or signing the Declaration of Conformity for packaging placed on the market by its customers.
The responsibility for preparing and signing the DoC remains with the manufacturer placing the packaging on the EU market.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a financial responsibility for the management of packaging waste, including the costs of collection, sorting and recycling.
Producers, such as manufacturers, distributors and importers, are responsible for paying EPR fees in the countries where they place packaging on the market.
Yes. Several PPWR requirements will become applicable in the coming years. VPK continuously monitors the development of secondary legislation and technical specifications expected between 2026 and 2030.
From 2030 onwards, a 100% reuse target will apply to pallets used for transport within the same Member State, subject to the conditions defined in the regulation.
The detailed recyclability criteria and performance grades have not yet been published. Greater clarity is expected through a delegated act by 1 January 2028. The new requirements are expected to become applicable 24 months after publication.
PPWR introduces harmonised labels for different packaging materials to help consumers sort and recycle packaging correctly. These labels will only apply to consumer packaging, meaning packaging that enters household waste streams. The labelling requirements are expected to apply from 12 August 2028.
The detailed packaging minimisation criteria are not yet available. Additional guidance is expected by 12 February 2027, with the requirements becoming applicable from 1 January 2030.
The methodology for calculating the empty space ratio has not yet been defined. Further clarification is expected through an implementing act in 2027, with the requirements becoming applicable from 1 January 2030.
From 2027, PPWR explicitly allows the use of digital data carriers, such as QR codes, to provide certain mandatory packaging information.
However, mandatory labelling elements cannot be provided exclusively in digital format. Physical labels will remain mandatory for harmonised sorting information.
The manufacturer or producer remains responsible for the digital content and must ensure that the information is accessible, accurate and available for the required period.
The requirements in PPWR for reporting are much higher for manufactures (mainly our customers: brands, retail, traders, …) then for suppliers (the standard corrugated box plants). However, to accurately identify the specific obligations that apply, each company must assess its role within the supply chain and consult with internal operational and legal departments.
PPWR is a vast regulation, and this annex complements the FAQ section. It aims to capture essentials impacting the relation between VPK and its customers. Major milestones are 2026 regarding PFAS, Heavy Metals (HM) and Bisphenols; 2027 requests compliancy on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and 2028 compliance on packaging labelling. Across all these milestones, the Commission expects manufacturers of packaging goods to increase efforts on packaging reduction and recycling.
VPK has done its due diligence across its supply chain and manufacturing processes. As an outcome, only certain inks (more specific: the extenders) used in the printing process of corrugated packaging might have micro-plastics. As a conclusion, VPK requested all its ink suppliers to comply with PPWR and as a consequence, micro-plastics in inks/extenders will be substituted by eco-extenders complying with PPWR. VPK will comply by October 2026 on that target.
The target date is set at August 2026 and is the duty of the filler (company using the packaging products: brands, retail, traders, …). This means the filler needs to comply with a “Conformity Document” that needs to be made per material. Yet, no definition has been established on the definition on what a material might be. On the content of the “Conformity Document”, PPWR refers to Annex 7. PPWR does not make a distinction between primary, secondary and tertiary packaging and all type of packaging should be considered. VPK wants to support its customers (as being mainly the fillers according to PPWR) in establishing the Conformity Document. Therefore, it has started to verify what data needs to be added and guarantee extraction of this data to be provided to the fillers. It is expected to have this ready during Q2 2026.
När det gäller tungmetaller (HM):
Två aspekter behöver beaktas: på vilket sätt tungmetaller tillförs i produktionsprocessen och vilka halter av tungmetaller som kan förekomma i VPK:s produkter. När det gäller den första aspekten tillsätter VPK inte tungmetaller i sin produktionsprocess. När det gäller den andra genomför VPK för närvarande flera tester. Eftersom papper är den huvudsakliga komponenten i en wellpapplåda har analyser av tungmetaller genomförts på VPK Paper. Resultaten har visat att kraven enligt europeisk lagstiftning uppfylls. FEFCO har genomfört liknande tester på wellpapplådor och kommit fram till samma resultat. Inom EU kan dock varje land ställa strängare gränsvärden och/eller använda andra mätmetoder. Stickprovstester på wellpapplådor genomförs för att bekräfta efterlevnaden, och de senaste testresultaten förväntas i september 2026.
När det gäller per- och polyfluorerade alkylsubstanser (PFAS):
Om utökat producentansvar:
Om tillverkaren är etablerad i samma medlemsstat där förpackningen blir avfall, anses tillverkaren vara producent och ansvarar för rapporteringen.
Om tillverkaren inte är etablerad i den medlemsstat där förpackningen blir avfall, är det i stället en annan aktör etablerad i den medlemsstaten (t.ex. distributör, importör eller ompackare) som betraktas som producent och ansvarar för rapporteringen.
Vid e-handel till slutkonsument sker tillgängliggörandet på marknaden i den medlemsstat där slutkunden finns.
Övriga kvarstående mål på längre sikt inom PPWR:
När det gäller tungmetaller (HM):
Två aspekter behöver beaktas: på vilket sätt tungmetaller tillförs i produktionsprocessen och vilka halter av tungmetaller som kan förekomma i VPK:s produkter. När det gäller den första aspekten tillsätter VPK inte tungmetaller i sin produktionsprocess. När det gäller den andra genomför VPK för närvarande flera tester. Eftersom papper är den huvudsakliga komponenten i en wellpapplåda har analyser av tungmetaller genomförts på VPK Paper. Resultaten har visat att kraven enligt europeisk lagstiftning uppfylls. FEFCO har genomfört liknande tester på wellpapplådor och kommit fram till samma resultat. Inom EU kan dock varje land ställa strängare gränsvärden och/eller använda andra mätmetoder. Stickprovstester på wellpapplådor genomförs för att bekräfta efterlevnaden, och de senaste testresultaten förväntas i september 2026.
När det gäller per- och polyfluorerade alkylsubstanser (PFAS):
Om utökat producentansvar:
Om tillverkaren är etablerad i samma medlemsstat där förpackningen blir avfall, anses tillverkaren vara producent och ansvarar för rapporteringen.
Om tillverkaren inte är etablerad i den medlemsstat där förpackningen blir avfall, är det i stället en annan aktör etablerad i den medlemsstaten (t.ex. distributör, importör eller ompackare) som betraktas som producent och ansvarar för rapporteringen.
Vid e-handel till slutkonsument sker tillgängliggörandet på marknaden i den medlemsstat där slutkunden finns.
Övriga kvarstående mål på längre sikt inom PPWR:
