PPWR and the food sector: what changed from 12 August 2026 for packaging compliance
01/09/2026
From 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has applied across the European Union.
However, this does not mean that all requirements came into force at the same time. The PPWR introduces a phased set of obligations and deadlines over the coming years.
For many businesses, 12 August marked the culmination of months of analysis, document collection and discussions with suppliers. More importantly, however, it marks the beginning of a new phase that will increasingly affect materials, packaging configurations, internal processes and information systems.
The PPWR covers the entire packaging life cycle: from design and material selection to compliance documentation and labelling, as well as recyclability, recycled content and end-of-life management.
For food manufacturers, compliance therefore means more than simply changing packaging. It also means being able to collect, update and substantiate the information associated with each packaging configuration over time.
A number of PPWR provisions became applicable from 12 August 2026, while other requirements will be introduced progressively.
Areas that are already particularly relevant to businesses include conformity assessment, technical documentation and certain requirements relating to the chemical safety of packaging.
Under the PPWR definition, manufacturers must only place packaging on the market that complies with the applicable requirements. They must carry out, or have carried out on their behalf, the relevant conformity assessment and draw up an EU Declaration of Conformity based on the technical documentation required by the Regulation.
Suppliers must also provide the information and supporting evidence needed to demonstrate compliance. A generic statement about a material may therefore not be sufficient if it is not backed up by the appropriate technical documentation.
For food businesses, the chemical safety of packaging is another particularly important area. Food-contact packaging cannot be placed on the market if it contains PFAS at or above the concentration limits established by the Regulation.
Businesses therefore need to be able to trace information relating not only to the main packaging materials, but also to coatings, adhesives, inks and other less visible components, involving the relevant suppliers across the value chain where necessary.
The PPWR requires EU Member States to establish the penalties that will apply to breaches of the Regulation.
By 12 February 2027, each Member State must introduce penalties that are effective, proportionate and dissuasive. However, the provisions already applicable have been binding since 12 August 2026.
Where packaging is found to be non-compliant, corrective action may be required and, depending on the decisions of the competent authorities, there may be consequences for whether that packaging can be placed or remain on the market.
There are also wider operational and commercial risks to consider.
In B2B relationships, retailers, industrial customers and international groups may request data, declarations and supporting documentation as a condition for approving a supplier, retaining a product listing or starting a new commercial relationship.
Incomplete information, or data that is difficult to retrieve and verify, can therefore lead to delays, additional costs and, in the most critical cases, lost commercial opportunities.
For this reason, compliance is also a matter of business continuity. Being able to demonstrate quickly what a packaging configuration consists of, which checks have been carried out and where the supporting data comes from is becoming part of a company’s ability to respond effectively to customers, auditors and regulatory authorities.
Packaging compliance cannot be managed as a static document.
Materials, suppliers and packaging configurations change over time, and each change may require further checks, updates and approvals.
The regulatory framework itself is also evolving. The European Commission and national bodies continue to publish FAQs, clarifications and practical guidance to support the interpretation and implementation of the Regulation.
For food businesses, this means keeping both regulatory deadlines and product and packaging information up to date.
Companies that have already structured this information are better placed to identify missing data, understand which packaging families are most exposed and plan the necessary actions before they become urgent.
Addressing the PPWR means going beyond the simple collection of compliance documentation.
For each product, businesses increasingly need to connect and maintain data relating to packaging materials and components, weights, suppliers, certifications, technical evidence and, progressively, the additional information required by the Regulation.
In many organisations, this information is spread across ERP systems, Quality and R&D systems, Excel files, PDFs and documents received from suppliers.
When a material, component or supplier changes, identifying the correct information and the evidence that supports it can quickly become complex.
The goal is to maintain data that is up to date, traceable and linked to the relevant product, packaging configuration and source.
The Product Information Management capabilities within .one make it possible to centralise this information within a single, traceable platform, manage changes to materials, suppliers and packaging configurations with greater control, and reduce the time needed to retrieve and verify information during audits, inspections or requests from customers and retailers.
Packaging data therefore becomes part of a structured process for managing compliance over time.
Can you currently identify, for every product, what its packaging consists of, which data you hold and what evidence you can provide to demonstrate compliance?
If this information is still spread across different systems, files and supplier documentation, we can help you assess how to structure and manage it in preparation for the next PPWR deadlines.
