Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is clearly against any delay or renegotiation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Instead, the association is calling for swift, practical guidelines for implementation to ensure compliance with the requirements throughout the entire value chain.
Flexible packaging manufacturers continue to see significant challenges in the practical implementation of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR). Nevertheless, Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) rejects calls from parts of the industry to postpone the application of the regulation or to re-open its central content. Instead, the European Commission must swiftly present concrete and uniform implementation rules.
Focus on practical implementation rather than legislative change
According to FPE, the indications published by the Commission so far are insufficient. Rather, the timely development of secondary legislation that creates clear and realistic requirements for companies is crucial. This includes, in particular, regulations on recyclability, the use of recycled materials, and requirements for minimisation and market restrictions.
Only through uniform and practicable guidelines can homogeneous implementation within the EU be ensured. This is necessary to avoid distortions of competition between member states and to enable compliance with the requirements that will apply from August 2026.
Branch points to high investment
The association stresses that the industry has already made significant investments in adapting to the PPWR objectives. A subsequent amendment or delay of the regulation would jeopardise these investments and create additional uncertainty. This could slow down the transformation towards a circular economy and affect the competitiveness of European suppliers.
A single framework as the basis for the internal market
FPE highlights that the PPWR creates a harmonised legal framework for packaging in Europe for the first time. Reopening the regulation carries the risk of fragmentation if Member States introduce their own national regulations.
Regulatory stability is crucial for the industry to make investments plannable and ensure a level playing field within the internal market. FPE therefore advocates for an intensive dialogue between politics and industry to quickly clarify outstanding issues and ensure a practical implementation of the PPWR.
Source: FPE
