The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) presents companies that use packaging with far-reaching changes. The aim of the PPWR is to make all packaging in the EU reusable or fully recyclable by 2040. Although transition periods of between three and ten years apply, depending on the type of packaging and industry, organizations should start the changeover now.
“Anyone who misses the deadlines must expect harsh consequences,” says Jürgen Krahé, Senior Commercial Director EMEA at ORBIS Europe, manufacturer of durable and recyclable reusable plastic packaging. “There is a risk of high fines, delivery delays, product stops or even exclusion from the EU market.”
Review and adapt packaging strategy
To ensure deadline-compliant implementation, companies need to analyse their packaging strategy now and coordinate with supply chain partners. The first step: Review the existing portfolio and determine what measures need to be taken. The requirements of the PPWR include:
- Design packaging to be recyclable.
- Introduce reusable packaging in B2B supply chains (pallets, large load carriers, containers).
- Comply with recyclate quotas (e.g. 35 percent recycled content for certain plastic packaging).
- Observe labelling requirements (material information, disposal instructions).
If the company is not yet able to (fully) fulfil the above requirements, it is important to check whether the packaging can be optimized accordingly or whether it is necessary to invest in alternatives.
PPWR-compliant with a recyclable concept
Materials and packaging concepts that promote the circular economy and are designed for resource efficiency and reusability are suitable as PPWR-compliant alternatives. These include reusable plastics, mono-materials with high recyclability or packaging with a high proportion of recycled material. “It makes sense to include packaging properties in decisions,” says Krahé. “Reusable plastic containers, for example, improve transport utilization thanks to their low weight and stackability. Thanks to reduced CO2 emissions, companies thereby act sustainably and responsibly beyond legal requirements.”
Seeing the PPWR as an opportunity
The requirements of the PPWR are complex, but they offer companies the opportunity to position themselves sustainably against the backdrop of increasing customer demands and to prepare for future environmental standards. ORBIS Europe supports companies in the development of sustainable packaging solutions that not only meet regulatory requirements, but also bring ecological and economic benefits. To this end, the packaging manufacturer is working with the sustainability consulting agency Pacoon, based in Munich and Hamburg.