01/10/2026
On August 12, 2026, EU Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR) replaced the old 1994 packaging directive and became binding law across all 27 EU countries. It also applies to exporters outside the EU, including Ukraine, if your products reach the European market in any kind of packaging.
The rules are phasing in over the next few years — here’s what’s coming:
✔ Chemical restrictions — heavy metals and «»forever chemicals» (PFAS) are now restricted in food-contact packaging
✔ New labeling, coming 2028–2029 — QR codes and standardized marks showing what a package is made of and how to dispose of it correctly
✔ Design-for-recycling standards, phasing in 2028–2030 — packaging will need to actually be designed for recycling, not just labeled as recyclable, with real criteria and deadlines
✔ Less empty space, coming 2030 — transport and e-commerce packaging will be capped at a set share of empty air inside; no more oversized boxes around a small product
If you export to the EU, or work with someone who does, now’s the time to check your materials, package sizing, and labeling — before each deadline lands, not after. Non-compliance isn’t a small risk: it can mean fines or losing access to the EU market entirely.
Aris — We create packaging.
You create future 🟦🟧
