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The Packaging Industry in the Light of Legal Regulations: Challenges, Obligations, Opportunities

The packaging industry is currently undergoing a significant transformation due to changing European Union regulations and growing consumer expectations regarding sustainability. Two key legislative initiatives – the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) and the SUP Directive (Single Use Plastics) – are driving real changes in the design, materials, and lifecycle management strategies of packaging.


The PPWR Regulation replaces the previous Directive 94/62/EC and introduces more stringent yet detailed requirements. Among them there is the obligation to reduce empty space in transport packaging, collective packaging, and e-commerce packaging. According to the regulation, the maximum empty space coefficient will be 50%.


The PPWR also includes the introduction of mandatory, standardized sorting labels starting from 2026. Every package will need to have material composition information to facilitate waste sorting. This system aims to increase recycling efficiency and reduce the level of contamination from mixed waste. A key goal of the regulation is to ensure that by 2030, all packaging placed on the EU market is fully recyclable.


Furthermore, there will be a requirement to use a minimum level of recycled content in new plastic packaging – e.g., 25% in PET bottles by 2025 and 30% by 2030, according to the SUP Directive. It's important to note that currently, only around 30% of plastics are recycled in the EU, highlighting the scale of the challenge.


These changes are not merely formalities – they bring real technological and financial challenges. Companies will be forced to switch to materials that are more easily recyclable, such as monomaterials.


Monomaterial packaging is the future of the industry. According to studies, monomaterial packaging is up to 70% easier to recycle than those made from mixed materials. Polpak Packaging understands the direction of these changes and already offers monomaterial packaging, continually working on introducing more.


One of the key elements in terms of compliance with the PPWR are the previously mentioned labels. Although they make up a small percentage of the total weight of the packaging, they can determine whether a package is classified as recyclable. According to guidelines from the European PET Bottle Platform, using labels made from materials that do not separate during the recycling process (e.g., due to the presence of various chemical additives) disqualifies the entire bottle. As a result, more and more companies are switching to labels such as “wash-off,” which detach during the water bath in recycling facilities. This system will be mandatory starting in 2026, but many companies are already implementing it.


Packaging design should consider the entire lifecycle of the product, and material selection must be carefully thought out, especially in terms of their impact on waste management systems. However, do bioplastics, compostable materials, and reusable packaging truly provide an answer to current regulations and market expectations? It’s important to remember that they are not always a solution to waste management problems. Such materials may cause confusion in the waste collection system, as many require specific conditions for degradation, which could hinder proper sorting and processing in standard recycling systems.


The packaging industry faces many challenges, but also enormous opportunities. Environmental regulations, growing consumer awareness, and technological innovations are changing the way packaging is designed and produced. The key is to combine ecology with functionality and cost-effectiveness in order to meet market demands and maintain competitiveness in a changing world.


Polpak Sp. z o.o. is a company that fully understands the challenges facing the packaging market in the context of dynamic changes and new regulations. We are committed to developing effective solutions and working closely with our clients to best adapt to changing market conditions.


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