“Regulations” is a word most companies react to with a sigh. But PPWR is one of those cases where it’s worth knowing what it’s about — because it changes not so much the paperwork as which packaging you’ll be able to put on the market at all. And the sooner you adjust your choice of material and construction, the less stress later.
In this text we explain calmly and without legal jargon: what PPWR is, when it applies, what it really changes for packaging, and why paper and cardboard come out of this change rather as winners. This is an overview of the direction, not legal advice — the details and deadlines are being rolled out in stages, so final decisions are always worth basing on official sources.
What PPWR is
PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, EU Regulation 2025/40) is the new EU law on packaging and packaging waste. It entered into force at the beginning of 2025 and — as a rule — starts to apply from 12 August 2026. It replaces the earlier packaging directive.
One thing is important here in practice: it is a regulation, not a directive. This means it applies directly and in the same way across all EU countries, without separate “transposition” into Polish law. Fewer differences between markets, but less room for delay.
What really changes for packaging
The regulation is extensive, and some of the requirements are spread over years, but the direction can be summed up in a few points that touch almost everyone who orders packaging:
- Recyclability. Packaging is to be designed so that it is genuinely suitable for recycling. Mono-material paper and cardboard meet this assumption far more easily than complex laminates.
- Less excess. The rules limit excessive and “empty” packaging — what counts is a sensible match of size to product, not a box with half of it air inside.
- Limiting harmful substances. From August 2026 the requirements on hazardous substances tighten, including restrictions on PFAS in food-contact packaging — especially relevant for the food service sector.
- Producer responsibility (EPR). Environmental fees are to be differentiated according to how easy the packaging is to recycle — more “eco” constructions will simply be more favourable.
- Targets for the future. In the longer term, requirements on recycled content and reuse are added — that’s the horizon of the coming years, but it’s worth keeping in the back of your mind already today.
Why cardboard and paper come out ahead
Here’s the good news for most of our clients: the PPWR direction favours what you’re already using. Paper and cardboard are homogeneous materials, widely collected and recycled — that is, exactly what the rules are pushing the whole market towards. Switching from plastic and laminates to paper solutions is not only an image gesture, but also a way to look more calmly at the next stages of regulation.
In other words: if you pack in cardboard, choose the size sensibly and keep an eye on materials approved for food contact, you’re already a large part of the way ahead.
What it means for your company in practice
Without panic and without getting ahead of everything by five years — a few sensible moves right now make life easier later:
- Go for recyclable materials — mono-material paper and cardboard instead of laminates that are hard to recover.
- Don’t oversize packaging — a well-chosen size means less material, lower cost and compliance with the spirit of the rules all at once.
- Watch out for food contact — in food service and food products, food-safe materials are today the basics, not an add-on.
- Think about the eco profile from the design stage — it’s easier to plan this at the start than to rework a finished production run.
If you want to move towards packaging with a clear environmental profile, we’ll select the material and construction to fit that goal — you have a starting point in eco-friendly packaging.
Frequently asked questions
When does PPWR apply?
The regulation entered into force in 2025, and most requirements start to apply from 12 August 2026. Some of the targets (e.g. recycled content, reuse) are spread over subsequent years.
Does it also affect small companies?
The rules cover packaging placed on the EU market, so as a rule they apply to anyone who packs a product. The scale of requirements varies — the details are always worth checking in official sources.
Does cardboard meet the recyclability requirements?
Mono-material paper and cardboard are widely collected and recycled, so they fit the direction of the rules more easily than complex laminates. We help select the material to fit that goal.
Will you help adapt packaging to the new rules?
Yes — we’ll advise on material, a sensible size and finishing so that the packaging is in line with the spirit of PPWR and still looks good.
See also
Planning packaging with ecology in mind? Start with eco-friendly packaging, check the difference between kraft and white cardboard and an overview of types of cardboard packaging. We are a packaging manufacturer from Warsaw — we design in-house, and we ship finished runs across Poland.