{"id":227,"date":"2026-08-11T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/?p=227"},"modified":"2026-07-24T12:56:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T12:56:41","slug":"ppwr-2026-packaging-compliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/ppwr-2026-packaging-compliance\/","title":{"rendered":"PPWR 2026: What Cosmetics, Food and Supplement Companies Must Prepare"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will generally apply from <strong>12 August 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regulation (EU) 2025\/40, commonly known as the PPWR, introduces a harmonised framework covering packaging placed on the European Union market and the management of packaging waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The regulation covers packaging regardless of its material or origin and introduces requirements relating to packaging composition, manufacturing, recyclability, reuse, waste prevention and producer responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For cosmetics, food, supplements, healthcare products and imported consumer goods, the PPWR is not only an environmental reporting issue. It affects product development, packaging selection, supplier qualification and technical documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does every PPWR obligation start on 12 August 2026?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The regulation generally applies from 12 August 2026, but individual requirements, delegated acts, implementing measures and transition periods follow different timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Companies should avoid two opposite mistakes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>assuming that every PPWR obligation starts immediately<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>assuming that no action is required until later deadlines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The correct approach is to create a product-specific implementation roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One immediate priority: PFAS in food-contact packaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 12 August 2026, food-contact packaging must not be placed on the EU market when it contains PFAS at or above the PPWR limit values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The regulation establishes limits including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>25 ppb for any individual PFAS measured by targeted analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>250 ppb for the sum of PFAS measured through targeted analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>50 ppm for PFAS, including polymeric PFAS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additional evidence may be required where total fluorine exceeds 50 mg\/kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The European Commission has clarified that the PPWR does not provide a general stock-exhaustion transition for PFAS-containing food-contact packaging produced before 12 August 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Packaging placed on the market after that date must comply. Packaging already placed on the market before the date may remain available and does not automatically need to be withdrawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This makes the timing of \u201cplacing on the market\u201d operationally important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which companies are affected?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PPWR is relevant to businesses including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>packaging manufacturers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>food and beverage companies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>supplement brands<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cosmetics companies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>private-label manufacturers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>importers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>distributors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>e-commerce businesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>companies selling packaged products under their own brand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>suppliers of packaging materials and components<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">International companies entering the EU should not assume that packaging accepted in the United States, United Kingdom or Asia automatically complies with the PPWR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should companies do first?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Map the packaging portfolio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Document packaging by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>product<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>material<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>component<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>supplier<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>intended use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>food-contact status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>country of origin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>date of first placement on the EU market<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Primary, secondary, grouped, transport and service packaging may be subject to different practical considerations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Clarify economic-operator roles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Companies should determine who acts as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>manufacturer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>producer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>importer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>distributor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>authorised representative<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fulfilment service provider<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The applicable responsibility cannot be determined solely from who physically manufactures the packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brand ownership, commissioning arrangements and market-placement activities may affect the legal role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Update supplier questionnaires<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suppliers should provide information relevant to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>material composition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>substances of concern<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PFAS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>heavy metals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>recycled content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>recyclability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>conformity documentation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>production changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generic sustainability statements are not substitutes for technical evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Prioritise food-contact packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food-contact packaging requires immediate attention because the PFAS limits apply from the general application date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Companies should identify high-risk materials such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>grease-resistant papers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>coated paper and board<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>moulded fibre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>barrier coatings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>takeaway packaging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>flexible laminates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>specialised seals and liners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The material type alone does not prove the presence or absence of PFAS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Define a testing strategy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Testing should answer a defined compliance question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the material and supplier evidence, this may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>targeted PFAS analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>total fluorine screening<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>migration testing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>material characterisation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>heavy-metal analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>assessment of coatings and multilayer structures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every packaging component requires the same test programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Build technical documentation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Companies should retain evidence showing how compliance was assessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Documentation may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>material specifications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>supplier declarations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>analytical reports<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>risk assessments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>design information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>compliance decisions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>change-control procedures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why waiting is risky<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Packaging projects often involve long lead times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Artwork changes, supplier qualification, material substitutions, tooling, production trials and stability testing cannot always be completed shortly before a regulatory deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A late compliance review may reveal that the packaging needs to be changed after the product formula, shelf-life study or launch schedule has already been finalised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Makrolife can support PPWR readiness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Makrolife can support companies with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>packaging portfolio reviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>supplier-document gap assessments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PFAS and chemical-testing strategies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>food-contact material testing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>packaging risk assessments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>coordination of specialised laboratory analyses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>interpretation of results<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>preparation of a practical compliance action plan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The objective is to determine what needs to be tested, which documents are missing and what must change before the packaging is placed on the EU market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prepare before 12 August 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The PPWR should be treated as a cross-functional project involving regulatory affairs, packaging development, quality management, procurement and suppliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Request a PPWR Packaging Readiness Check from Makrolife.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will generally apply from 12 August 2026. Regulation (EU) 2025\/40, commonly known as the PPWR, introduces a harmonised framework covering packaging\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,7,9,4],"tags":[14,29,25,28,27,26],"class_list":["post-227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beauty-and-supplements","category-ernaehrung","category-regulatory","category-supplements","tag-eu","tag-limits","tag-packaging","tag-pfas","tag-requirements","tag-waste"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":230,"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227\/revisions\/230"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/makrolife-biotech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}