The Bundestag has passed the Packaging Act Implementation Act (VerpackDG), clearing the way for the national implementation of the European Packaging Regulation PPWR (EU 2025/40). On 11 June, the coalition factions of the CDU/CSU and SPD voted in favour of the Federal Government's draft law. The AfD, Alliance 90/The Greens, and Die Linke rejected the law.
With the law The current Packaging Act will be repealed and adapted to the PPWR, which will apply directly from 12 August 2026. The aim is to reduce packaging waste, improve the recyclability of packaging, and strengthen the circular economy.
Higher recycling rates and stricter design requirements
The Law it provides for the recycling rate for plastic waste to be increased to 75 percent by 2028 and to 80 percent by 2030. In addition, new requirements for the use of recyclates, reusability and compostability are being introduced.
Packaging should in future be designed to avoid hard-to-recycle plastics and certain problematic substances such as PFAS as much as possible. Furthermore, the law contains provisions for avoiding oversized packaging as well as new labelling requirements designed to facilitate sorting and disposal.
Sharpened ecological participation fees
In the Environment Committee, the CDU/CSU and SPD, with the support of the Greens, had made amendments to the draft law. In particular, the regulations on the ecological design of participation fees were further developed.
According to the committee, this is intended to create stronger financial incentives for recyclable and environmentally friendly packaging.
Bundestag Demands Quick Recyclate Regulations
Alongside the law, the Bundestag passed a resolution. In it, the federal government is called upon to quickly present the planned legal ordinances pursuant to Section 26a of the Packaging Law Implementation Act.
Particular attention is paid to promoting the use of recyclates. The relevant regulations are to come into force as early as 2027. Furthermore, the Bundestag calls for targeted strengthening of the use of recyclates produced in Germany and the EU, and for the full exploitation of European scope for accounting for recyclates.
Furthermore, the Federal Government should advocate at the EU level for the faster approval of further recycled materials – particularly for applications sensitive to contact – as well as for a uniform and, as far as possible, low-bureaucracy verification procedure for plastic recyclates.
Opposition unsuccessful with own demands
Motions from the AfD and the Greens were rejected. Among other things, the AfD had called for fruit, vegetables and mushrooms to be exempted from the European restrictions on certain single-use plastic packaging.
In contrast, the Greens called for a faster and more comprehensive strengthening of reusable systems. Among other things, the expansion of the reusable offer obligation in the to-go sector, as provided for in the PPWR, should be introduced as early as 1 January 2027.
With the Bundestag's resolution, an important step has been taken towards the national implementation of the PPWR. However, the legislative procedure is not yet fully concluded, as the Bundesrat also needs to consider the law.
Source: German Bundestag
