PPWR · Key dates
All PPWR deadlines at a glance — with countdowns
The EU Packaging Regulation applies in stages: declaration of conformity and PFAS limits from August 2026, labelling from 2028, recyclability grades and minimum recycled content from 2030. This list contains all key dates of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 — verified against EUR-Lex, with countdowns updated daily.
Open Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on EUR-Lex- August 12, 2026in 10 days
PPWR applies directly in all Member States: substance restrictions, re-use systems, economic operators' obligations incl. EU authorised representative.
Art. 71 · Art. 5, 15, 26–28, 45
- August 12, 2026in 10 days
EU Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation mandatory for every packaging – to be kept available for market surveillance.
Art. 39 · Anhang VII/VIII
- August 12, 2026in 10 days
Limits for intentionally added PFAS in food-contact packaging (incl. 25 ppb per substance, 250 ppb in total).
Art. 5(5)
- January 1, 2028in 517 days
Delegated acts on design-for-recycling criteria and performance grades A–C expected (basis presumably the EN 18120 series).
Art. 6(4) · Anhang II
Date depends on pending EU legal acts and may shift.
- February 12, 2028in 559 days
Tea bags, single-serve coffee units and fruit/vegetable stickers must be industrially compostable.
Art. 9
- August 12, 2028in 741 days
Harmonised labelling of material composition – at the earliest from this date or 24 months after the implementing acts.
Art. 12
Date depends on pending EU legal acts and may shift.
- January 1, 2029in 883 days
Member States must operate deposit return systems for single-use plastic beverage bottles and metal beverage packaging.
Art. 50
- January 1, 2030in 1,248 days
Packaging must reach at least recyclability grade C (≥ 70%) – below that it may no longer be placed on the market.
Art. 6 · Anhang II Tab. 3
- January 1, 2030in 1,248 days
Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging: 30% contact-sensitive PET, 10% other contact-sensitive, 30% single-use beverage bottles, 35% other.
Art. 7(1)
- January 1, 2030in 1,248 days
Re-use and refill targets apply (e.g. 40% for transport packaging); further targets follow in 2040.
Art. 29
- January 1, 2030in 1,248 days
Certain single-use formats under Annex V are banned (e.g. single-use plastic for fresh fruit/vegetables below 1.5 kg, HORECA portions).
Art. 25 · Anhang V
- January 1, 2030in 1,248 days
Packaging minimisation becomes binding; empty-space ratio capped at 50% for grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging.
Art. 10, 24
Date depends on pending EU legal acts and may shift.
- December 31, 2030in 1,612 days
Per-capita packaging waste in Member States decreases by 5% versus 2018.
Art. 43
- January 1, 2035in 3,074 days
Recyclability additionally requires recycling at scale per packaging category.
Art. 6
- December 31, 2035in 3,438 days
Per-capita packaging waste decreases by 10% versus 2018.
Art. 43
- January 1, 2038in 4,170 days
Grade C is phased out – only packaging of grades A (≥ 95%) and B (≥ 80%) may be placed on the market.
Art. 6
- January 1, 2040in 4,900 days
Recycled-content stage 2: 50% contact-sensitive PET, 25% other contact-sensitive, 65% single-use beverage bottles, 65% other.
Art. 7(2)
- December 31, 2040in 5,265 days
Per-capita packaging waste decreases by 15% versus 2018.
Art. 43
Packstr supports PPWR documentation and is not legal advice.