As part of its new package to simplify environmental legislation, the European Commission announced on 10 December that it will shortly be presenting guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This is the authority's response to the industry's great need for legal clarity and coherent implementation of the new requirements in all member states.
The PPWR will gradually come into force from 2026 and is considered one of the most important regulatory instruments in the European circular economy. The planned guidelines are intended to ensure that key elements of the regulation - such as recyclability requirements, recyclate use quotas, labelling obligations and bans on certain packaging formats - are interpreted and applied uniformly. According to the Commission, this should stabilise the internal market, avoid distortions of competition and provide companies with the necessary planning security.
At the same time, the Commission is announcing additional measures to accompany the implementation of the PPWR. These include the abolition of the SCIP database, transitional regulations on extended producer responsibility (EPR) and preparatory work for the Circular Economy Act, which is intended to bundle further harmonisation steps from 2026. This relief is intended in particular to reduce the administrative burden on the packaging industry and facilitate the transformation towards circular business models.
By announcing the guidelines, the Commission is taking an important step towards stabilising the regulatory framework. The final documents are expected in the coming months and will be decisive for how the PPWR is implemented in practice - and how safely companies can invest in new recyclable materials, technologies and infrastructures.
Source: EU Commission
