Velvet VE1P: The Complete Guide to Our Rotary Premade Pouch Filling Machine
Comprehensive Guide to the Velvet VE1P: Full-servo rotary machine for pre-formed pouches (10 g – 2.5 kg capacity). Engineered for ultimate flexibility.
EU PPWR Regulation
What the New Packaging Rules Mean for Brands and Manufacturers
The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is no longer a distant 2040 objective. While the regulation outlines long-term targets extending to 2040, its operational impact begins much sooner.
For companies operating in the packaging industry, understanding the PPWR requirements in 2026 is already essential
The PPWR introduces stricter rules on substances, recyclability, recycled content, labeling, and documentation.
More importantly, it changes the way packaging compliance must be approached. The transition is clear: from making sustainability claims to proving them with measurable data, technical evidence, and full supply chain traceability.
KEY DATES: WHAT CHANGES FROM 2026 TO 2040
The EU Packaging Regulation officially entered into force on February 11, 2025, with general application starting on August 12, 2026.
Although further milestones are set for 2030 and 2040, companies will already need to demonstrate structured compliance from 2026 onward, including technical documentation and verifiable recyclability data.
WHAT THE REGULATION COVERS: OPERATIONAL IMPACT AREAS
- RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES: PFAS AND HEAVY METALS (FROM 2026)
From August 2026, the regulation introduces specific provisions related to PFAS in packaging and cumulative limits for certain heavy metals.
These requirements apply not only to primary materials such as films or laminates, but also to coatings, inks, adhesives, additives, spouts, caps, and other functional elements. Compliance is assessed at the level of the entire packaging system.
- RECYCLABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PERFORMANCES CLASSES
Recyclability is addressed through a more technical and structured framework, including performance classes (A/B/C) and a progressive path toward increasingly stringent criteria.
For many applications, the central challenge is identifying where improvements can be made without compromising packaging functionality. Often, critical issues are not limited to the main structure but involve components such as labels, adhesives, zippers, spouts, and caps.
- RECYCLED CONTENT TARGET FOR 2030 AND 2040
The PPWR sets mandatory recycled content targets for plastic packaging, with phased objectives extending to 2040.
These targets affect procurement strategies, supplier qualification, raw material sourcing, and quality control systems. Achieving long-term compliance requires a structured roadmap integrating R&D and supply chain alignment.
- COMPOSTABILITY: LIMITED SCOPE, HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Compostability is foreseen only for specific categories. For most applications, the direction remains focused on recyclability and circularity. Communicating accurate and compliant claims helps reduce risk and avoid misunderstandings.
- MINIMIZATION: PROOF REQUIRED FROM 2030
Starting January 1, 2030, packaging minimization must be technically demonstrated. It will no longer be sufficient to claim that packaging is optimized. Companies must show that further reduction would compromise performance or safety.
Weight and thickness are only part of the equation. Protection, shelf life, integrity, machinability, and product safety are equally relevant.
- LABELING AND DIGITAL INFORMATION: GOVERNANCE ARTWORK AND QR CODE
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation also introduces more harmonized labeling requirements and promotes the use of digital tools, including QR codes, to provide additional product and recycling information.
For brands operating across multiple European markets, this implies stricter artwork governance, version control, and coordinated updates. Packaging communication must align with technical compliance and recyclability classification.
- COMPLIANCE BECOMES A PROCESS
The PPWR reinforces conformity assessment procedures, EU Declarations of Conformity, and documentation retention requirements (with differences between single-use and reusable packaging).
Compliance will no longer be a static document, it becomes an ongoing, structured process involving:
- Technical data
- Supply chain declarations
- Traceability
- Consistency between specifications, sourcing, and communication
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HOW IS VELVET PREPARING FOR THIS?
At Velvet, we are already aligning our work with what the PPWR makes increasingly strategic: solutions designed for recyclability and, where possible, progressive simplification toward mono-material structures.
This means proactively working on:
• Design for recycling across both structure and components
• Technical alternatives that maintain performance while reducing unnecessary complexity
• Stronger management of evidence and documentation throughout the supply chain
The reason is simple: 2040 requires a roadmap, not a sprint. Companies that start now will turn compliance into a competitive advantage. It is necessary to work on solutions designed for recyclability and, where possible, a path to simplifying structures towards single-material solutions.