From 12 August 2026, the European Union’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) begins to apply across all EU member states. While it is an EU regulation, it could also affect UK businesses that supply goods or packaging into the EU.
If your business exports products, supplies customers who export to Europe, or uses transit packaging for EU shipments, now is the time to understand what the changes mean.
What is PPWR?
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) replaces previous EU packaging rules with one consistent framework. Its aim is to reduce packaging waste, improve recyclability and encourage greater use of reusable packaging throughout supply chains.
The regulation is built around several key principles:
- Packaging should be designed to be recyclable.
- Reusable packaging is encouraged over single-use alternatives.
- Unnecessary packaging should be reduced.
- Packaging will require clearer labelling and supporting technical information.
- Certain harmful substances, including PFAS in specific applications, face tighter restrictions.
Could PPWR affect your business?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you sell packaged products into the EU?
- Do your customers export goods into the EU?
- Is your transit packaging used for European logistics?
- Do you import products or packaging that will enter the EU market?
If you answered yes to any of the above, PPWR is likely to be relevant to your business.
What does this mean for returnable transit packaging?
For many businesses, PPWR strengthens the case for Returnable Transit Packaging (RTP). Reusable plastic pallets, containers, crates and boxes can help reduce reliance on single-use packaging while supporting longer-term sustainability objectives.
Choosing durable, reusable transport packaging can also simplify future compliance planning as supply chains increasingly move towards circular packaging systems.
How Exporta Global can help
While manufacturers remain responsible for ensuring products meet the regulation, Exporta Global helps customers make informed packaging decisions.
We can support you by:
- Advising on suitable returnable transit packaging solutions.
- Helping optimise packaging systems for reuse.
- Providing available product and compliance documentation.
- Sharing our ISO policy and supporting information where applicable.
Every business will have different requirements, but understanding your packaging now will make future compliance much easier.
If you’d like to discuss whether your current transit packaging is suitable for EU supply chains, our team is always happy to help.
