The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force on February 11, 2025, with most obligations becoming enforceable from August 12, 2026. Missing the compliance deadline can result in costly and disruptive consequences for any business placing packaging on the EU market.
If your packaging is non-compliant, your products cannot be legally sold or distributed in the EU. Even fully manufactured goods may be blocked at customs, recalled from shelves, or rendered unsellable—directly impacting revenue, partnerships, and growth plans.
PPWR sets harmonized rules, but enforcement and penalties are defined nationally. Countries like France already impose fines up to €100,000 per violation. Sales bans, product recalls, and administrative penalties will increase as enforcement ramps up in 2026.
Authorities can order the removal of non-compliant products from the market. In addition to lost sales, businesses will bear the full cost of logistics, storage, and potentially even disposal of unsellable packaging materials.
One of the most urgent PPWR rules is the ban on PFAS in food-contact packaging (enforceable August 12, 2026), with strict thresholds (25 ppb individual PFAS / 50 ppb total). Violating these limits can trigger regulatory actions, litigation, or brand reputation damage.
Producers must be registered in every EU country they place packaging into the market. This includes financial responsibility for waste collection, reporting, and recyclability verification. Failing to comply with EPR schemes can lead to financial penalties and exclusion from distribution networks.
PPWR compliance is a differentiator. Non-compliance exposes companies to NGO campaigns, investor concerns, and consumer distrust. Meanwhile, competitors with fully compliant packaging gain market share and secure preferential partnerships with retailers.
KÖR supports businesses throughout the entire packaging compliance process—ensuring you're not only meeting regulatory demands but turning them into strategic advantages.
Here's how:
Missing the PPWR compliance deadline isn’t just a regulatory issue—it’s a market access issue. But with KÖR as your partner, you can move from reactive risk management to proactive compliance strategy. From early testing and design reviews to data reporting towards the EU, KÖR ensures you are on time and without surprises.
Next Step: Reach out to KÖR today to discover how easily you can access testing capabilities matching your meeds.
Contact us at hello@kor-group.com.
