With the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the European Union is creating a unified legal framework for packaging and packaging waste in Europe. The background is the steadily growing amount of packaging materials, which are often disposed of after a single use. This leads to high resource consumption and significant environmental impact.

The PPWR aims to make packaging more sustainable throughout its entire lifecycle. The focus is on reducing packaging waste, promoting the circular economy, and improving the recyclability of packaging. For the first time, the regulation considers the entire lifecycle of packaging—from material selection, production and use to recycling.

The most important requirements include:
• Transparency regarding materials, components and supply chains
• Restriction of environmentally and health-hazardous substances
• Promotion of recyclable packaging solutions
• Increase in recycled content in packaging
• Avoidance of unnecessary packaging
• Introduction of clearly defined responsibilities along the entire supply chain

The key milestones of the PPWR

Implementation will take place step by step:

From 12 August 2026: Entry into application
• Substance restrictions and new requirements for packaging materials
• Introduction of roles and responsibilities for economic operators
• Conformity assessments and documentation requirements
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

From 2028
• Mandatory compostability for certain types of packaging
• Introduction of harmonised packaging labelling
• Further requirements to reduce unnecessary packaging

From 2030
• All packaging must be recyclable
• Minimum recycled content requirements for plastic packaging
• Stricter requirements for packaging minimisation
• Ban on certain oversized or non-recyclable packaging

What does the PPWR mean for material manufacturers?

For material manufacturers, a phase of profound change is beginning. Many packaging materials currently in use will be reassessed regarding recyclability, composition and environmental impact.

Materials that will be in demand in the future are those that:
• are easier to recycle
• enable mono-material solutions
• contain a higher proportion of recycled content
• avoid problematic substances
• comply with circular economy requirements

At the same time, material manufacturers will need to provide significantly more information about material composition, origin and recyclability. The entire supply chain will become more transparent and documentation-intensive.

Impact on the packaging and printing industry

The new requirements affect not only packaging manufacturers but the entire value chain. New materials often come with different properties such as changed material thickness, fibre composition and cutting and processing behaviour. Especially when switching to more sustainable packaging solutions, production processes must be reassessed and adapted.

What does this mean for Kocher+Beck?

As a specialist in rotary die-cutting technology, Kocher+Beck closely studies the impact of the PPWR on packaging materials and production processes.

New materials often also require adapted tools. Changes in material thickness, fibre structure or composite construction directly affect the requirements for cutting dies and tooling systems. To ensure that packaging continues to be produced economically, precisely and reliably, tooling technology and material development must go hand in hand.

Our experts continuously monitor regulatory developments and work closely with material manufacturers, packaging producers and brand owners. This enables us to respond early to new requirements and develop suitable solutions.

Meeting the challenges of the PPWR together

The PPWR will sustainably transform the packaging industry in the coming years. Companies face the challenge of introducing new materials, adapting processes and maintaining high quality and efficiency standards at the same time.

Kocher+Beck sees itself not only as a tool supplier but as a development partner. With our expertise in die-cutting technology, we support our customers in successfully implementing new packaging concepts and reliably meeting PPWR requirements.

The future of packaging will be more sustainable, transparent and circular. With the right partner at their side, companies can not only manage these changes but also turn them into opportunities.

Kocher+Beck accompanies this transformation – today and in the future.