New European packaging regulations come into force on August 12th.

From 12 August 2026, the first provisions of EU Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR – Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) , the new European text on packaging and packaging waste , will become applicable.

The Regulation replaces the previous Directive 94/62/EC and, unlike the latter, is directly applicable in all Member States without the need for national transposition.

The regulation concerns all packaging placed on the EU market , regardless of the material, production sector or context of use: it therefore involves not only large producers, but progressively also artisan, commercial, agri-food, tourism and catering businesses.

What changes starting August 12th

The provisions that will become effective from this date are in particular:

• Restrictions on substances (Article 5) : Confirmation of the overall limit for lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium (100 mg/kg) and new restrictions on PFAS in food contact packaging.
• Mandatory conformity assessment : manufacturers must carry out the conformity assessment of the packaging before placing it on the market, preparing technical documentation and an EU Declaration of Conformity (Article 39 and Annex VIII).
• Obligations for importers and distributors : verify that the packaging placed on the market complies with the requirements of the Regulation.
• Documentation retention : 5 years for single-use packaging, 10 years for reusable packaging, to be made available to the competent authorities upon request.
• Qualitative justification for packaging minimization (Article 10) : general principle according to which packaging should be designed to reduce weight and volume to the minimum necessary (binding quantitative limits will only arrive in 2030).
• EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) registration : the PPWR harmonizes the European framework, but the requirements remain national. Those selling in multiple EU countries must register with the relevant system in each country (CONAI in Italy, LUCID/VerpackG in Germany, Citeo in France, Ecoembes in Spain).

Note: Some obligations do not apply to paper and cardboard packaging, and a delegated act of 25 February 2026 introduced specific exemptions, including stretch films and strapping used to stabilize loads during transport.

What comes next?

Not everything will happen immediately. The following still need to be defined, through future delegated and implementing acts of the European Commission:

What companies need to do now

Trade associations (including CNA) urge businesses to act immediately, but without causing alarm:

• Map and classify all packaging used.
• Identify your role in the supply chain (manufacturer, importer, distributor, e-commerce/marketplace).
• Collect technical information from suppliers necessary to document compliance.
• Check the EPR registration requirements in each EU country where you sell, including through marketplaces.
• Prepare the conformity documentation (EU declaration, technical file) for packaging placed on the market from August 12 onwards.

Why it's a good idea to move early

Beyond regulatory compliance, companies that adapt early can turn this requirement into a competitive advantage: differentiation in the market, improved reputation, and positioning themselves as leaders in packaging sustainability, in a context where each European citizen currently generates nearly 190 kg of packaging waste per year.