The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is a new EU regulation that sets packaging design, labeling, and documentation requirements for goods sold into the EU.
PPWR may apply both to those who sell packaging on its own, and those who simply ship products using packaging, even if they didn’t produce the packaging themselves.
It replaces an older EU directive and applies directly across all 27 EU member states starting August 12, 2026, covering nearly all packaging types, shipping cartons, void fill, pallets, labels, and packaging supplied by third parties.
This article gives a general, non-exhaustive overview. Confirm the specific requirements that apply to your business with your own legal or compliance advisor.
Who is responsible for PPWR compliance on my Faire orders?
Whether your business holds compliance obligations under PPWR and which role you might hold under the regulation depends on a range of factors—for example, where you ship from, where your retailer is located, whether you and your retailer are in the same EU member country, and whether either of you is located outside the EU.
Because these factors interact differently for different businesses and shipments, we recommend obtaining an assessment from your legal or compliance advisor on how PPWR applies to your business and products, if at all.
Does Faire verify or manage PPWR compliance for me?
No, Faire doesn't verify PPWR compliance on behalf of brands or retailers. If you're shipping packaged goods to recipients in the EU, the PPWR may apply to you; if it does, then compliance obligations sit with your business, not with Faire.
What does PPWR require of packaging?
- Restricted substances: Starting August 12, 2026, food-contact packaging can't contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above set limits, and packaging generally can't exceed a combined limit for lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium.
- Packaging minimization: Starting January 1, 2030, grouped, transport, and e-commerce packaging can't have more than 50% empty space; sales packaging has its own minimization requirement starting February 12, 2028.
- Recyclability: Starting January 1, 2030, packaging placed on the EU market has to be designed for recycling and meet a recyclability performance grade.
- Recycled content: Starting January 1, 2030, plastic packaging has to contain a minimum percentage of recycled content, with the exact percentage depending on the packaging type.
- Reusable transport packaging: Starting January 1, 2030, businesses using transport packaging like pallets, crates, or bulk containers have to ensure a portion of it is reusable within a re-use system. Cardboard boxes are excluded from this requirement.
What documentation does PPWR require?
Businesses with compliance obligations under PPWR are generally expected to prepare and keep two documents:
- A declaration of conformity confirming your packaging meets PPWR's requirements,
- Technical documentation supporting that declaration, such as material information, weight data, and test results.
Business subject to the PPWR must keep these records for 5 years for single-use packaging and 10 years for reusable packaging.
You may also need to register with a producer registry in each EU member state if you place packaging on the market for the first time. This is a per-country registration, not a single EU-wide one.
How can I start preparing for PPWR?
If PPWR applies to you, you might need to:
- Review your packaging: Check your current cartons, void fill, and other materials against PPWR's minimization, recyclability, and restricted substances requirements.
- Talk to your packaging suppliers: Ask for compliance information, material specifications, and any test results or certifications you'll need for your technical documentation.
- Check whether extended producer responsibility (EPR) applies to you: EPR registration and reporting requirements vary by EU member state, so confirm what's needed in the countries where you sell.
- Set up a documentation process: Since you'll need to keep your declaration of conformity and technical documentation for 5 to 10 years, make sure you have a system for storing and retrieving these records.
- Work with logistics partners who track EU regulatory changes: Carriers and freight partners that stay current on EU customs and packaging rules can help you avoid delays at the border.
What if I can't comply with PPWR right now?
Non-compliant packaging can lead to shipment delays, restricted access to the EU market, return-to-sender, destroyed packages, and administrative penalties, including fines — and these consequences apply to your business, not to Faire.
If you're not able to meet PPWR's requirements, you can't legally ship that packaging, even items in packaging, to the EU market, regardless of the reason. If you don't plan to bring it into compliance, you'll need to stop shipping it to EU addresses. Talk to your own legal or compliance advisor about what non-compliance means for your specific situation.