The EU Packaging Regulation

The EU Packaging Regulation applies from summer 2026
The EU has sent a clear signal for more circularity and less packaging waste: With Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste published on 22 January 2025, the final legal framework is in place, which will be binding across the EU as of 12 August 2026. The aim is to avoid unnecessary packaging, strengthen recycling and, in particular, ban certain single-use plastic packaging as of 2030.

The new regulation is a central component of the European Green Deal and represents a significant turning point with concrete need for action for many companies.

What does the new Packaging Regulation regulate?
The Regulation (EU) 2025/40 replaces the previous EU Directive 94/62/EC and applies directly in all Member States, that is, without national transposition laws. It includes, among other things:

• Ban on certain single-use plastic packaging from 2030
  e.g., takeaway packaging for food and beverages, portion packs in hotels, unnecessary packaging for fruit and vegetables
• New design and labeling obligations
  to improve sorting, reuse and recyclability
• Binding reuse targets
  for beverage packaging, hospitality, transport and e-commerce
• Extended producer responsibility (EPR)
  including clear requirements for collection and take-back systems
• Obligations for resource-efficient packaging design and for the use of recycled materials

Start of application and transitional periods
The regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025. Most provisions apply as of 12 August 2026. Transitional periods run in part until 2030, especially where infrastructure or conversions require time. The key point is: the direction is set; companies should act now.

Which packaging is affected by the ban?
From 1 January 2030, certain single-use plastic packaging may no longer be placed on the market, such as:

• Packaging for food and beverages for immediate consumption or takeaway
• Portion packs for cosmetics or food (e.g., hotel shampoos, sugar sachets)
• Packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables where no hygiene or protective requirements exist

These measures target packaging considered particularly short-lived and avoidable. At the same time, the regulation contains differentiated exemptions, e.g., for packaging of medicinal products and medical devices, where product safety and hygiene take precedence.

Opportunities and challenges for companies
The new regulation not only changes the regulatory framework, but also sets strategic direction for a future-proof economy:

Challenges:

• Review and realignment of product and packaging designs
• Necessary investments in alternative materials and reusable solutions
• Documentation obligations and evidence along the supply chain

Opportunities:

• Positioning as a sustainable, responsible company
• Development of new, circular packaging solutions
• Strengthening resilience within the supply chain and innovation capacity

A nuanced view of plastics
Not every single-use packaging is automatically environmentally detrimental. Especially in sensitive areas such as healthcare or the pharmaceutical industry, functional plastic packaging is often still essential. The regulation acknowledges this and provides specific exemptions, for example for packaging for medicinal products or medical devices where no equivalent alternative exists.

What matters assessing packaging with nuance and develop sustainable strategies that balance functionality, safety and environmental goals.

Conclusion
With Regulation (EU) 2025/40, the EU sets binding standards for a sustainable packaging industry. The transitional period until August 2026 gives companies time  but is also a clear call to act now. Those who act early can minimize regulatory risks and seize new opportunities for innovation and market positioning.

Compliance updates on the new EU Packaging Regulation