PPWR raises the bar for recyclability
By 2030, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will require packaging placed on the EU market to be recyclable by design, pushing brands to think beyond material choice and consider how packs perform in collection, sorting and recycling systems. This is already reshaping pack design, material choices and day-to-day operations. For brands, that means designing for circularity from the start, aligning specifications with how plants actually run day to day and proving performance in production rather than on paper. More specifically, sleeves, labels and their application systems need to be designed and operated to meet these PPWR rules.
Why sleeves, labels and application matter more than ever
Sleeves and labels have a broader role than decoration or brand messaging. They help protect the pack and its content, providing light protection, tamper evidence, safety information and durable handling. To achieve this, sleeves and labels - and the systems that apply them - need materials, inks and adhesives that look right on the shelf and contribute to the whole recycling process. These choices are about how the pack works as much as how it looks, so the next step is to specify options that meet today’s environmental rules as well as brand needs.
How brands can meet PPWR requirements and keep pace with 2030
Companies can start by choosing sleeves and labels that are recognised as non-disruptive with recycling in practice, not just in theory. For PET bottles, this currently means a floatable sleeve that keeps the bottle sortable and ensure the current recyclability standards while the pack still looks appealing on the shelf.
It is crucial in terms of efficiency to adequately transition to sustainable materials, as overcoming the challenges compared to traditional materials is vital to maintaining current line efficiency. Technical know-how is key to appropriately supporting those transitions, balancing production conditions, containers, raw materials, and applications to ensure consistent results.
cPET Sleeves & non bleeding washable inks
cPET sleeves are designed to be non-disruptive to PET bottle recycling. If the sleeves are not removed during the wind-shifting/air elutriation stage, the sleeve flakes pass through to the washing process, where the inks are detached. The cPET material then continues through the process without disrupting the final PET stream. cPET films can be made thinner, can run at lower energy, and have a higher speed application while still maintaining the same printing quality. Where local systems allow, the sleeve can also include recycled content.
Running at lower impact without sacrificing quality
Build in efficiency from the start. When you buy or refurbish sleeving application equipment, ask for energy and water figures alongside quality data. Modern, steam-free shrink systems can reduce utility costs without sacrificing quality and appearance, helping you to meet sustainability goals.
Across European installations, moving from steam to a steam-free shrink tunnel has delivered large reductions while holding shrink quality: Our Fuji Seal HS shrink Tunnel saves around 70% less energy, more than 85% less water and roughly 95% lower associated CO₂ compared with conventional steam systems at comparable performance and quality.
Fuji Seal’s roadmap in two parts
By 2030, Fuji Seal aims to achieve all sales from sustainable packaging through a two-part roadmap that creates value for customers and protects value in our operations.
Creating value means the packs we supply reduce impact without slowing the line. We use floatable sleeves, which enable clean separation, and work towards cPET sleeves to bring an alternative solution. We reduce film thickness. And we document application windows, including perforation geometry, heat profiles, and changeover settings to maintain performance stability across shifts.
Protecting value means shrinking our own footprint. Since 2022, we have reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in Europe by more than 30%. Over 90% of EU production runs on renewable electricity and all EU sites operate with zero waste to landfill. These figures sit alongside ongoing work on oxidiser renewal, compressor optimisation and on-site solar so that plant practices can reduce our environmental impact.
Fuji Seal at European events
In 2025, at the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht and Sustainability in Packaging Europe in Barcelona, we presented specifications, operating windows and field data because they are what designers and plant teams need to act now. The discussion centred on how to keep PET in the loop via cPET + non bleeding washable inks without giving up shelf impact and efficiency. Floatable sleeves to support current guidelines and separation from the PET bottle.
We reinforced those messages at interpack earlier this year and will be back at both the Sustainable Packaging Summit and Sustainability in Packaging Europe in late 2026 to build on them still further.
“PPWR is pushing businesses to rethink their packaging strategy and operations, generating new challenges to overcome” said Nicolas Gallardo, Business Unit Manager Food & Beverage, Sustainability Affairs & Communications, Fuji Seal Europe. “Our target at Fuji Seal is to make this practical and achievable. We supply floatable sleeves supporting D4R guidelines and PPWR for years, giving us an extensive knowledge from material, conversion & application perspective ensuring the highest efficiency possible. Actively work on cPET + non bleeding washable inks assessment to add alternative solutions for the future of shrink sleeve packaging.
One partner across materials, application and service
Fuji Seal acts as a single partner from film and label design to applicators, tunnels and on-site technical support. That integrated approach helps brand owners cut waste, keep input steady and meet recyclability rules with confidence. It also means design decisions can be checked against operating windows before they reach the line.
Circular packaging will depend on more than recyclable materials. It will require practical choices that work from design and application through to sorting and recycling. For Fuji Seal Europe, the path to 2030 is about helping brands make that transition in a way that is practical, scalable and ready for real production environments.