The new PPWR regulation: the future of packaging and sustainability in Europe

The packaging sector in Europe is undergoing a historic transformation. The new European Packaging and Waste Regulation (PPWR) has finally replaced the old Directive 94 / 62 / EC. Its purpose is clear: to redesign and make sustainable the entire life cycle of packaging in the European Union.

This strict packaging regulation entered into force in 2025 and will be applied in general as from 12 August 2026. As of that date, compliance will no longer be an option to become a mandatory requirement for access to the European market.

What's the ob?the main thrust of the PPWR in the

Packaging?

The main objective of this law is to eliminate the environmental impact of packaging, to promote a circular economy in a real way and to unify the rules throughout the European Union.

To achieve this, the regulation redefines the criteria for the manufacture and management of packaging through 5 key pillars:

Reduction of packaging and sustainable design waste: excessive or unnecessary packaging formats are prohibited. Eco-design becomes the basic standard to facilitate real recycling.

Promotion of reuse: reusable and rechargeable packaging systems for specific sectors are promoted and required, drastically reducing the «use and pull».

Technical criteria and compulsory recyclability: By 2030, all types of packaging marketed in the EU should be recyclable. The recycling criteria shall be measured according to strict technical standards to be applied progressively.

Compulsory recycling content in plastic packaging: the Regulation sets minimum targets for the inclusion of post-consumption recycled plastic (PCR) to boost the market for secondary raw materials.

Clear labelling and transparency: the packaging must incorporate clear, visual and harmonised information that guides businesses and consumers to properly separate waste in their homes and workplaces.

Declaration of conformity of Pack-Lab: guarantee of

safety and regulatory adaptation

At Pack-Lab, we anticipate the regulatory requirements to give our customers complete tranquility. We certify that our aluminium laminated bags (in flat formats, bellows, doypack and other custom geometry), made under high protection compositions:

PET / AL / PE 

PET / AL / OPA / PE

PET / AL / PET / PP

They are perfectly safe and technically suitable for high industrial, logistical, food, pharmaceutical and chemical protection packaging.

How do we ensure this policy compliance? We are based on three fundamental axes:

1. Secured chemical safety (REACH and RoHS)

Our structures comply with European chemicals regulations. We guarantee the total absence of highly worrisome substances (HCV) above 0,1%, as well as heavy metals above the legal limit of 100mg / kg.

2. Efficient and optimized design (PPWR Art.10)

We structure our laminated bags using weight and volume minimization principles. This ensures an insurmountable protection barrier against light, oxygen and moisture using the least amount of essential material.

3. Projection and future adaptation (PPWR Article 6 and 7)

Our technical road map is aligned with the long-term goals of the European Union:

The conformity of recyclability of our aluminium structures is projected for the horizon 2030-2035.

We declare with complete transparency that, under its current technical protection specifications, this packaging does not contain recycled plastic after consumption, does not use materials of biological origin and is not reusable.

In this way, we provide companies with impeccable technical traceability for their audits and statements of conformity of packaging.