PPWR – overview of deadlines

Deadline

Obligation / measure

By 12 February 2026

The Commission shall request the European standardisation organisations to draw up harmonised standards for compostable packaging and standards for home compostability.

By 12 August 2026

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts – a harmonised label and specifications for the labelling of packaging.

By 12 August 2026

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts – a methodology for identifying the material composition of packaging by means of digital labelling.

By 12 August 2026

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts – harmonised labels for waste receptacles.

By 31 December 2026

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts – a methodology for calculating and verifying the share of recycled content from post‑consumer plastic waste.

By 31 December 2026

The Commission shall adopt delegated acts – sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies.

By 31 December 2026

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts – a methodology for assessing the equivalence of rules applicable in third countries (recycled material).

By 31 December 2026

The Commission shall draw up a report on the presence of substances of concern in packaging.

By 12 February 2027

The Commission shall adopt a delegated act – the minimum number of cycles for reusable packaging.

By 12 February 2027

The Commission shall request the European standardisation organisations to draw up harmonised standards for the packaging minimisation methodology.

By 1 January 2028

The Commission shall adopt delegated acts – design‑for‑recycling criteria and recyclability classes (A, B, C).

By 1 January 2028

The Commission shall assess the need for derogations from the minimum recycled content targets for specific plastic packaging.

By 12 February 2028

The Commission shall review the state of technological development of bio‑based plastic packaging.

By 1 January 2030

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts – a methodology for assessing recyclability at scale.

By 1 January 2030

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts – a methodology for identifying substances of concern within digital labelling.

By 12 August 2030

The Commission shall assess whether it is necessary to amend or repeal the PFAS restriction (Art. 5(5)).

By 12 February 2032

The Commission shall submit a report on the achievement of the minimum recycled content targets for 2030 and review the feasibility of the 2040 targets.

By 12 February 2032

The Commission shall review the use of recycled materials in non‑plastic packaging.

By 12 August 2033

The Commission shall carry out an evaluation of Article 5 (substances of concern).

By 12 August 2034

The Commission shall carry out an overall evaluation of the Regulation.

By 1 January 2035

The Commission shall review the exemptions from the recyclability requirement.

Deadline

Obligation / measure

From 11 February 2025

Packaging shall be considered reusable if it meets the conditions laid down in Article 11(1).

By 31 December 2025

Member States shall provide the Commission with information on substances of concern in packaging.

From 12 August 2026

General applicability of the Regulation – all packaging must comply with the PPWR requirements; repeal of Directive 94/62/EC.

From 12 August 2026

Prohibition to place on the market food‑contact packaging containing PFAS above the specified limit values.

By 12 February 2027

Member States shall lay down penalties for infringements of the Regulation and notify them to the Commission.

By 12 February 2027

Packaging covered by an extended producer responsibility scheme must be identifiable (symbol/QR code).

By 12 February 2028

Compostable packaging (tea/coffee bags, self‑adhesive labels on fruit and vegetables) must comply with the standard for industrial composting.

By 12 February 2028

Other biodegradable plastic packaging must allow material recycling in accordance with Article 6.

By 12 February 2028

Economic operators filling sales packaging shall ensure minimisation of empty space.

From 12 August 2028 (or 24 months after the entry into force of the implementing acts, whichever is later)

Packaging shall bear a harmonised label indicating its material composition.

From 12 August 2028 (or 24 months after the entry into force of the implementing acts)

Packaging bearing information on the share of recycled content or bio‑based content shall comply with the specifications of the harmonised label.

By 12 August 2028 (or 30 months after the adoption of the implementing acts)

Waste receptacles intended for the collection of packaging shall bear harmonised labels.

From 12 February 2029 (or 30 months after the entry into force of the implementing acts)

Reusable packaging shall bear a label indicating its reusability (QR code etc.).

From 1 January 2029 (or 24 months after the entry into force of the implementing acts, whichever is later)

Calculation and verification of the share of recycled content shall follow the new methodology.

From 12 February 2029

Application of Article 67(5) (amendment of the SUP Directive 2019/904).

By 1 January 2030

The producer or importer shall ensure minimisation of the weight and volume of packaging.

By 1 January 2030

Member States may maintain national restrictions on formats and uses of packaging listed in points 2 and 3 of Annex V.

From 1 January 2030 (or 3 years after the entry into force of the implementing acts, whichever is later)

Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging:
30% (PET for sensitive products),
10% (other plastics for sensitive products),
30% (PET beverage bottles),
35% (other plastic packaging).

From 1 January 2030 (or 24 months after the entry into force of the delegated acts, whichever is later)

Packaging must be recyclable in classes A, B or C (prohibition to place technically non‑recyclable packaging on the market).

From 1 January 2035

Addition of the “recyclability at scale” factor to the assessment of packaging recyclability.

From 1 January 2038

Packaging must be recyclable only in classes A or B (class C = cannot be placed on the market).

From 1 January 2040

Increased minimum recycled content: 50% (PET for sensitive products), 25% (other plastics for sensitive products), 65% (PET beverage bottles), 65% (other plastic packaging).

Expiry date

Transitional provision maintained

30 months after the entry into force of the implementing act under Art. 12(6) PPWR

Article 8(2) of Directive 94/62/EC (labelling).

By 12 August 2028

Repeal of Decision 97/129/EC (identification of materials).

By 31 December 2028

Article 5(2) and (3), Article 6(1)(d) and (e) and Article 6a of Directive 94/62/EC (recycling targets).

By 31 December 2028

Article 12(3a), (3b), (3c) and (4) of Directive 94/62/EC (reporting).

By 31 December 2029

Article 9(1) and (2) of Directive 94/62/EC (essential requirements – Annex II point 1).

By 31 December 2029

Provisions on transmission of data to the Commission in Article 12 of Directive 94/62/EC.