National packaging registration
Each EU Member State can require registration of the packaging you place on its national market.
PPWR · In force since 12 Aug 2026
PPWR is now in force. Avoid fines of up to 4% of your annual revenue.
Centralize packaging registration, recyclability scoring and reporting in a single platform. Operational in 1-2 weeks, no consultants required.
- Automated packaging registration in every EU country
- A-E recyclability scoring per SKU following PPWR criteria
- Audit-ready reporting for national and international authorities
- ERP integration: enter your data once, reuse it everywhere
- Avoid fines of up to 4% of your annual revenue per EU country
Trusted by 2,000+ companies
27 Member States under one set of rules, with no national transposition
6 packaging types to classify before you can declare anything
4% of annual revenue: the ceiling on penalties, applied per country
1-2 weeks from signature to a scored packaging catalogue in Dcycle
What PPWR is
PPWR is Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, the European rule that governs how every piece of packaging placed on the EU market is designed, managed and recycled. It entered into force in February 2025 and its general application started on 12 August 2026.
It replaces the old Directive 94/62/EC and, for the first time, arrives as a regulation rather than a directive: it applies directly in all 27 Member States, with no national transposition step. One set of rules, enforceable against any company that manufactures, imports or sells packaged goods in the EU.
What the acronym stands for
PPWR stands for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. It is the name the European Commission, national authorities and the industry all use for this piece of legislation.
What the regulation actually asks for
PPWR exists to cut packaging waste across the EU and to make all packaging recyclable in practice by 2030: reduction targets, minimum recycled content, per-unit recyclability criteria, and new registration and reporting duties.
Unlike the directive it replaces, it unifies the requirements across the single market. For companies that means the country-by-country approach stops working: you need packaging data that is structured and traceable at European level.
How it sits with national packaging law
PPWR does not repeal national rules. Where it does not contradict them, for example how extended producer responsibility is organised, the national regime still applies. Where it does, the regulation wins: material identification, once voluntary, is now mandatory with harmonised pictograms.
PPWR key deadlines
General application is now in force. These are the next milestones.
- 12 Feb 2025 In force PPWR enters into force (EU Regulation 2025/40)
- 12 Aug 2026 In force General application in force
- 2028 Recyclability scoring becomes mandatory
- 2030 Minimum recycled content in plastics
Penalties can reach up to 4% of your annual revenue, applied per country.
What PPWR changes for your business
Four new obligations affecting anyone placing packaging on the EU market.
Design and recyclability
Every piece of packaging needs a recyclability grade (A-E) calculated using the PPWR methodology.
Minimum recycled content
Mandatory minimum recycled material in plastic packaging starting in 2030.
Mandatory annual reporting
Verifiable data submitted to national authorities and the European Commission every year.
Who PPWR affects
Applies to almost any company placing packaged goods on the EU market. Pick your sector to see the details.
Food and beverage producers and distributors
The sector with the highest volume of primary and secondary packaging. Bottles, cans, trays, films, cardboard packs. PPWR requires per-SKU recyclability scoring, minimum recycled content in plastics, and weight reduction per unit sold.
Packaging types affected:
- PET and glass bottles
- Aluminium and steel cans
- Multi-material trays
- Flexible films
Retail chains, fashion and home e-tailers
PPWR covers every sales unit and transport pack you ship. That includes carrier bags, shipping boxes, textile polybags and promotional packaging. Every SKU must carry its recyclability grade.
Packaging types affected:
- Shipping boxes and mailers
- Textile polybags
- In-store carrier bags
- Hangers and tags
Cosmetics, perfumery and drugstore
Complex multi-material packaging (glass plus dispenser pump plus secondary box) that typically scores poorly on recyclability. PPWR pushes redesign of low-scoring formats and forces brands to justify the materials chosen.
Packaging types affected:
- Glass jars and bottles
- Flexible tubes
- Folding cartons
- Pumps and valves
Online sellers, marketplaces and fulfilment
From 2030 PPWR caps empty space in shipping boxes at 40%. It also applies to marketplaces acting as de facto importers when the seller is based outside the EU.
Packaging types affected:
- Corrugated cardboard boxes
- Void fill material
- Padded mailers
- Tape and seals
Logistics operators and 3PLs
Transport packaging (pallets, stretch films, corner protectors, reusable boxes) falls under PPWR. 3PLs are accountable to their customers for the scoring and traceability of the packaging they handle.
Packaging types affected:
- Wooden and plastic pallets
- Stretch and shrink films
- Reusable boxes
- Labels and seals
Pharma, OTC and medical devices
Packaging is also regulated for health safety, but PPWR still applies. The challenge: justify non-recyclable materials driven by parallel regulatory requirements and prove the scoring on secondary and tertiary packaging.
Packaging types affected:
- PVC/Aluminium blisters
- Secondary cardboard boxes
- Paper leaflets
- Sterile primary packaging
How Dcycle solves PPWR end to end
Automated packaging data collection
Connect your ERPs, invoices and product specs. Dcycle classifies every packaging item automatically, applies the right factors and leaves the data ready for reporting.
Per-SKU recyclability scoring
Automatic A-E grading following the PPWR methodology for every SKU in your catalogue. No spreadsheets, no external consultants.
Audit-ready reports for national and international audits
Every data point with its source document, change history and approval chain. Ready for national audits in each EU Member State and international audits by the European Commission, with nothing extra to chase.
In production
The PPWR module, already shipped
Not a roadmap. Every block below is generally available today, and each card links to the release note behind it.
Live
Automatically import packaging data from technical sheets
Upload a packaging technical sheet and Dcycle extracts the data automatically, saving you from manual entry when creating or updating packaging units.
LiveLink your SKUs to packaging units for one PPWR declaration of conformity
Keep using your own commercial terms (SKUs) while Dcycle automatically translates them into the packaging units required by PPWR, generating a single declaration of conformity that covers them all.
LiveThe PPWR supplier portal is now easier for your suppliers to use
Suppliers can now submit one declaration of conformity that covers multiple packaging units, answer simpler attestation-style questions, and use the portal in their own language, making it faster to collect the compliance data you need.
LiveNew PPWR format checks flag packaging compliance risks
Automatically catch potential PPWR packaging compliance issues, such as void-space limits, single-use plastic bans, and reuse targets, before they become a problem.
LiveGenerate QR codes directly from the declaration of conformity editor
You can now generate a packaging QR code directly from the declaration of conformity editor, without leaving it to go back to the packaging unit.
LiveManage target markets and share PPWR compliance documents securely
Define the markets where each packaging unit is sold, see exactly where every data point comes from, and share your PPWR compliance documentation securely with a link or QR code.
Teams already running their packaging data with Dcycle
Two of the 2,000+ companies that centralize their sustainability data with us.
With Dcycle we achieved 100% Scope 3 measurement across our entire value chain. We now have full visibility of our environmental impact from farm to shelf.
Dcycle allowed us to consolidate sustainability data across our entire retail network and generate the reports our stakeholders need, in a fraction of the time.
Official Dcycle guide
Download the PPWR 2026 guide
Everything your business needs to know to comply with PPWR now in force. Country-by-country deadlines, obligations by packaging type, recyclability scoring, and how it fits with CSRD and ESRS.
Free · 32 pages · PDF · 2026 edition
Frequently asked questions about PPWR
Which companies does PPWR apply to?
Any company placing packaging on the EU market: producers, importers, distributors, and e-commerce platforms. It does not depend on where the company is based, but on the market where the packaging is sold.
When does it enter into force?
PPWR (EU Regulation 2025/40) entered into force on 12 February 2025 and general application has been live since 12 August 2026. Specific obligations remain phased through 2040 (A-E recyclability scoring, mandatory producer registration, minimum recycled content).
What penalties can apply for non-compliance?
Penalties are set by each Member State but can reach up to 4% of the company's annual revenue, applied per country. Authorities can also ban non-compliant packaging from the market.
Does it apply if I sell across several EU countries?
Yes. PPWR is a directly applicable EU regulation, but each Member State keeps its own register and national reporting system. With Dcycle you manage every country from a single platform.
How does PPWR fit with CSRD and ESRS?
PPWR generates packaging and recyclability data that is directly reusable in your CSRD report (especially under ESRS E5: resource use and circular economy). With Dcycle, a single dataset feeds every framework.
How fast can I be operational with Dcycle?
In 1-2 weeks from contract signature. We connect your systems, import your packaging catalogue and leave the recyclability scoring live. You do not need a multi-month project with external consultants.
How is pricing structured?
Pricing scales with packaging volume and the number of countries you operate in. During the demo we give you a fixed quote tailored to your situation, with no surprises.
Ready to solve PPWR for good?
Request a personalized demo and we will show you in under 30 minutes how Dcycle automates PPWR compliance end to end.
Keep reading about PPWR
The rest of our work on the regulation: the practical guides, the tooling comparison and the product notes.
Guide PPWR 2027: penalties and compliance guide Article 7 keys to comply with PPWR 2026 and stay in the EU Article PPWR guidance published: what companies must do now Comparison The 8 best PPWR compliance tools in 2026 Webinar PPWR: prepare for the new EU packaging law Platform Evidence and traceability, end to end
Talk to an expert 
Davide Lauritano
Pick a slot with a PPWR expert
In 30 minutes we show you how Dcycle automates PPWR compliance using the data you already have in your business.
- Diagnosis of your current packaging
- A plan to meet PPWR without rework
- A free 30-minute call, no commitment
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