EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) —it starts to come into force on August 12, 2026 and continue during the coming years.
What is the PPWR?
The PPWR replaces the EU's old packaging directive with a single regulation that applies directly across all member states — no more patchwork national rules. It covers every type of packaging used in e-commerce: sales packaging, grouped packaging, and transport packaging. Importantly, there's no exemption for packaging used purely for online order dispatch, so if you ship to EU customers, this applies to you.
What's already in effect (since August 12, 2026)
The first wave of requirements focuses on the materials themselves:
- Packaging must minimize substances of concern, with restrictions on emissions and environmental impact.
- Combined heavy metal content (lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium) is capped at 100 mg/kg.
- Food-contact packaging faces strict PFAS limits (25 ppb for individual PFAS, 250 ppb for total PFAS, 50 ppm including polymeric PFAS).
What's coming next
What we're doing
We're tracking the PPWR's implementation closely, including the European Commission's technical guidance expected later this year, and we'll keep adapting our packaging options and carton sizing to help you stay compliant as each phase takes effect.
Links:
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/packaging-waste_en
DHL- https://www.dhl.com/fi-en/home/important-information/2026/13082026.html
https://ppwrobligations.com/guide/ppwr-extended-producer-responsibility/