European Regulation 2025/40 on packaging (PPWR) and packaging waste, known by its acronym PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), is the new European regulation approved at the end of 2024 and published in January 2025.
Unlike the previous Directive 94/62/EC, this regulation is directly applicable to all Member States, eliminating differences between countries. The objectives, new features, and obligations of this new regulation are explained below.
Regulation 2025/40 packaging PPWR. General context: Why a new regulation?
The volume of packaging waste has grown steadily in Europe, generating significant environmental impacts. Within the framework of the Green Deal and the transition to a circular economy, the EU has deemed it necessary to update and tighten legislation to curb this growth by 2030.
This regulation establishes requirements throughout the entire life cycle of packaging, focusing on sustainability and the circular economy. By 2030, all packaging on the market must be recyclable or reusable after use, while also promoting the use of recycled materials in its manufacture. In short, the aim is to minimize the environmental impact of packaging and encourage innovation in more sustainable packaging.
Direct impact on rigid plastic packaging
From 2030 onwards, all packaging must comply with the principle of minimal design: using only the amount of material strictly necessary to ensure its functionality. Superfluous elements such as double walls, false bottoms, or oversized formats intended to enhance the perception of the product are prohibited.
In secondary packaging, e-commerce, or transport packaging, empty space should not exceed 50% of the total volume, which will directly affect product design and grouping.
For Industrias Plásticas Triana, this involves reviewing molds, thicknesses, and geometries, optimizing the use of material without compromising strength or structural stability.
Actual recyclability and sorting
All packaging must be recyclable by design by 2030 and recyclable on an industrial scale by 2035.
As a new feature, the PPWR introduces a recyclability rating (A, B, or C) based on the percentage of material that is effectively recyclable:
A → more than 95%
B → between 80% and 95%
C → between 70% and 80%
Packaging with a recyclability of less than 70% will not be allowed on the market from 2030, and from 2038 only class A or B packaging will be permitted. This change requires a shift towards monomaterial structures and easily separable components, avoiding mixtures of incompatible polymers.
Minimum recycled content
In the case of rigid plastic packaging, the minimum content of post-consumer recycled material shall be as follows:
| Type of packaging | 2030 | 2040 |
| Foodstuffs non-PET | ≥ 10 % | ≥ 25 % |
| Non-foodstuffs | ≥ 35 % | ≥ 65% |
| PET foodstuffs or beverages | ≥ 30 % | ≥ 50% |
To meet these requirements, it will be essential to collaborate with suppliers certified under UNE-EN 15343 or ISCC standards, certifications that IP Triana already possesses, which will allow the injection processes to be adapted and ensure that the mechanical and aesthetic properties are equivalent to those of virgin material.
Chemical restrictions and harmonized labeling
Starting in August 2026, the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in food contact packaging will be prohibited, reinforcing the compatibility and safety of recycling.
From 2028, all packaging must incorporate harmonized labeling throughout the EU, clearly identifying:
- The packaging material.
- The appropriate container for disposal.
- Whether it is reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
The aim is to facilitate the correct separation of waste in all countries and improve the traceability of recycled material, ensuring that information is consistent and easily recognizable for both consumers and waste managers.
Conclusion
European Regulation 2025/40 on packaging (PPWR) represents a paradigm shift for plastic packaging manufacturers: the design, composition, and management of the material must be adapted to a new model based on circularity and resource efficiency.
At Industrias Plásticas Triana, we are already working in this direction, committing to single-material packaging with certified recycled content and more efficient processes, anticipating the future of European packaging and reaffirming our commitment to sustainability.
