Glosario PPWR

PPWR distinguishes two distinct roles. (1) Article 17 — design-side authorised representative, voluntarily appointed by a manufacturer to handle conformity tasks in the Union. (2) Article 45 — EPR-side authorised representative, mandatorily appointed by a producer placing packaging in a Member State where it is not established. The two are separate written appointments.

Referencia del Artículo Articles 17 & 45

Technical annex specifying the format and content of the EU Declaration of Conformity required by Article 39 — manufacturer identification, packaging identification, the harmonised standards or technical specifications applied, signatory details and place/date of issue.

Referencia del Artículo Annex VIII

The process by which a manufacturer demonstrates that a packaging unit meets the essential PPWR requirements set out in Annex II Part 1. Outcome: an EU Declaration of Conformity (template in Annex VIII) plus the technical documentation supporting it, kept available to authorities for ten years.

Referencia del Artículo Article 39 + Annex II Part 1

Packaging in direct contact with food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or medical devices. Subject to the Article 5 PFAS restriction, the wider Annex III substance-of-concern regime, and a derogation regime for the Article 7 recycled-content thresholds (recognising input-stream and food-safety constraints).

Referencia del Artículo Article 5 & Article 7

Packaging certified for industrial composting (EN 13432 or equivalent). PPWR Article 9 designates the formats that must be industrially compostable — tea/coffee bags, sticky fruit labels, and single-serve coffee capsules where Member States require. Compostable packaging is exempt from the Article 7 recycled-content thresholds.

Referencia del Artículo Article 9

The percentage of packaging waste collected for recycling relative to the amount placed on the market. PPWR carries forward the Member-State recycling targets from Directive 94/62/EC (e.g. 65% all packaging by 2025, 70% by 2030) and adds the 90% by 2029 separate-collection target for single-use plastic and metal beverage containers via the Article 50 DRS.

Referencia del Artículo Article 50 (DRS)

Secondary EU acts that detail PPWR requirements — notably the Article 6 design-for-recycling and Annex II Table 3 grade methodology, the Article 7 recycled-content calculation rules, and the Article 12 labelling pictograms. Adopted on the rolling timeline set in the regulation; treat citations to a single dated "guidance document" with caution until the corresponding act is officially adopted.

Referencia del Artículo Delegated & implementing acts under PPWR

The mandatory document by which the manufacturer (or its Article 17 authorised representative) asserts that a packaging unit meets the essential requirements of Annex II Part 1. Template structure is set in Annex VIII; the DoC must be kept available to market-surveillance authorities for ten years.

Referencia del Artículo Article 39 + Annex VIII

A digital record of standardised information about a product (composition, performance, recycling instructions). For packaging, the DPP data model is governed by the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (Reg 2024/1781). PPWR Article 12 mandates the data carrier (QR code or equivalent) on packaging from 12 August 2028, sharing the same carrier with any product-side DPP.

Referencia del Artículo Article 12 + ESPR Reg 2024/1781

A collection system where consumers pay a deposit on beverage containers, refunded upon return. PPWR Article 50 requires every Member State to operate a DRS for single-use plastic and metal beverage containers up to 3 L by 1 January 2029, achieving at least 90% separate collection by weight per year.

Referencia del Artículo Article 50

An economic operator in the supply chain — other than the manufacturer or the importer — that makes packaging available on the EU market. Must check that packaging carries the required Article 12 labelling and that an EU Declaration of Conformity exists upstream.

Referencia del Artículo Article 3 (definitions)

Guidelines ensuring packaging can be efficiently sorted and processed in existing recycling infrastructure — material compatibility, adhesive compatibility, colour standards, label placement. Under PPWR Article 6, the design-for-recycling criteria per packaging category are set by Commission delegated acts due 1 January 2028 and feed directly into the Annex II Table 3 grade calculation.

Referencia del Artículo Article 6

A regulatory framework requiring producers to take financial responsibility for managing the end-of-life of the packaging they place on the EU market — funding collection, sorting, treatment and recycling. Implemented per Member State; producers must register (Article 44) and, when not established locally, designate an authorised representative (Article 45).

Referencia del Artículo Articles 44 & 45

Any natural or legal person placing packaging on the EU market in the course of commercial activity — manufacturer, importer, distributor, fulfilment service provider, final distributor, or authorised representative. The category that triggers PPWR obligations as a whole.

Referencia del Artículo Article 3 (definitions)

Standardised EU pictogram-based labelling on packaging providing material-composition and disposal information. PPWR Article 12 mandates the labelling format from 12 August 2028; the harmonised symbols themselves come through an implementing act due 12 August 2026. Article 14 mirrors the same pictograms onto waste-collection bins.

Referencia del Artículo Article 12

A natural or legal person established in the EU that places packaging from a non-EU manufacturer on the EU market. Must verify the manufacturer has met PPWR design-conformity requirements, that technical documentation exists, and that an Article 45 authorised representative is in place where required.

Referencia del Artículo Article 3 (definitions)

An entity producing packaging or having packaging designed or manufactured under its name or brand. Bears the bulk of the design-conformity load: technical documentation, conformity assessment, EU Declaration of Conformity, traceability of supplied components, and identification information on or accompanying the packaging.

Referencia del Artículo Article 15

Activities performed by national competent authorities to verify packaging compliance with PPWR — inspections, sampling, testing, document requests. Authorities may withdraw non-compliant packaging from the market and impose penalties. The framework references Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance.

An accounting method tracking recycled-content claims through supply chains using input/output documentation rather than physical traceability of every molecule. The methodology used to substantiate the Article 7 PCR thresholds is set by Commission implementing act.

Referencia del Artículo Article 7 (implementing act)

PPWR Article 10 + Annex IV require each packaging unit to be reduced to the minimum weight, volume and number of layers compatible with safety and functionality. Bans purely cosmetic features that inflate perceived volume (double walls, false bottoms, non-essential layers). Article 24 caps the empty-space ratio in transport / e-commerce packaging at 50% from 1 January 2030.

Referencia del Artículo Article 10 + Annex IV

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40. The comprehensive EU regulation governing packaging design, labelling, recycled content and producer responsibility. Entered into force on 12 February 2025; general application from 12 August 2026, with progressive deadlines through 2040.

Referencia del Artículo Regulation (EU) 2025/40

Persistent synthetic chemicals restricted under PPWR Article 5 in food-contact packaging above the trace thresholds set in the article. Applies from 12 August 2026 to intentionally added PFAS; the wider substance-of-concern regime in Annex III governs the complete list of restrictions.

Referencia del Artículo Article 5 + Annex III

A three-tier classification under PPWR Article 6 + Annex II Table 3 — Grade A (≥95% of the unit by weight is recyclable), Grade B (≥80%) and Grade C (≥70%). Below Grade C cannot be placed on the EU market from 1 January 2030; the Grade B floor applies from 1 January 2038.

Referencia del Artículo Article 6 + Annex II Table 3

The percentage of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic incorporated into a plastic packaging unit. Article 7 + Annex III set minimum thresholds per packaging family (e.g. contact-sensitive PET, non-contact-sensitive plastic) from 1 January 2030, with higher thresholds from 1 January 2040. Calculation methodology comes through implementing acts.

Referencia del Artículo Article 7 + Annex III

Infrastructure enabling packaging refill or take-back-and-reuse cycles. Articles 26-27 set general operational requirements for closed-loop and open-loop systems; Article 29 sets binding 2030 reuse targets per packaging family (40% transport, 10% beverage sales, 10% HORECA); Article 30 covers refill obligations for large retailers and HORECA; Article 31 sets common provisions.

Referencia del Artículo Articles 26 - 31

Packaging conceived, designed and placed on the market to accomplish multiple trips or rotations within a reuse system. Article 11 sets the qualification criteria (minimum rotations per format set by delegated act due 12 February 2027); Article 13 mandates the "reusable" label and a QR code linking to the reuse system; Article 29 sets the 2030/2040 reuse targets.

Referencia del Artículo Article 11

Chemicals restricted in packaging under PPWR Article 5 + Annex III, including the legacy heavy-metal sum (lead + cadmium + mercury + hexavalent chromium ≤ 100 ppm) inherited from Directive 94/62/EC, plus the explicit PFAS restriction in food-contact packaging. The Commission may extend the list via delegated acts.

Referencia del Artículo Article 5 + Annex III

Packaging conceived, designed and placed on the market to be used once before disposal or recycling. Subject to the Article 25 + Annex V format bans (SUP grouped multi-pack outers, SUP fruit/vegetable wrap under 1.5 kg, SUP HORECA single-serve condiments, SUP hotel toiletries, very lightweight plastic carrier bags) from 1 January 2030.

Referencia del Artículo Article 25 + Annex V