Regulation (EU) 2025/40 — the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) — entered into force on 11 February 2025 following publication in the Official Journal of the EU. Its substantive provisions apply from 12 August 2026, an 18-month implementation window set by Article 69. Unlike the prior Directive 94/62/EC (which required national transposition), the PPWR is directly applicable in all 27 member states and the EEA, eliminating national legislative variation.
Scope. The regulation covers all packaging placed on the EU market — primary, secondary, and tertiary — including B2B transit packaging, e-commerce shipping materials, and service packaging. Imported packaged goods (including shipments from China to EU distributors, Amazon FBA, and HORECA buyers) are in scope from day one of application.
Quantitative compliance obligations by deadline.
| Requirement | Threshold / target | Date of effect |
|---|---|---|
| All packaging recyclable | 100% of packaging by design | 2030 |
| Packaging waste per capita reduction (vs 2018) | −5% / −10% / −15% | 2030 / 2035 / 2040 |
| Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging | 30% (contact-sensitive by 2030) | From 2030 |
| Compostable packaging — EN 13432 conformity | Tea bags, coffee pods, fruit stickers, lightweight plastic bags | From 12 Aug 2026 |
| Mandatory labelling — composition code + bin symbol | Every component of every package | From 12 Aug 2026 |
Direct impact on WanLong's eco-food-packaging line. Bagasse clamshells, kraft salad boxes, and PLA-coated hot cups fall under the compostable category. These are exempt from the recycled-content obligation but must (a) carry EN 13432 industrial-compostability certification from a notified body such as TÜV Austria or Intertek, (b) display the harmonised "seedling" mark with the EU conformity code, and (c) include the new material composition trinomial in label artwork. The 2019/904 single-use plastics restrictions remain in force in parallel; PP clamshells for hot fill remain banned under Article 5 of the SUP Directive, while bagasse equivalents are not.
Action items for B2B buyers. (1) For any EU-bound shipment after 12 Aug 2026, request the EN 13432 certificate (≤ 12 months old), the FSC chain-of-custody code for fibre-based packaging, and a labelling compliance review for the destination member state. (2) For mixed-material packaging (e.g. paper + PLA window), confirm that each component is separately classified under Annex II of the regulation. (3) For PLA-coated hot cups, note that the European Commission will revisit the compostability scope in 2027 — and a possible reclassification as "not recyclable in practice" could require a redesign to a fibre-only water-based coating.
What we are doing at WanLong. All bagasse and PLA products ship with current EN 13432 reports (TÜV Austria / Intertek). Kraft and paper carry FSC chain-of-custody. From Q3 2026 we are rolling out a new PPWR-compliant artwork template to all EU-destined orders at no design charge. Source-of-truth reference: EUR-Lex Regulation (EU) 2025/40.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of 19 December 2024 (PPWR); EUR-Lex C/2025/408; European Commission DG ENV factsheet 2025-02
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