From 12 August 2026, newrules on packagingandpackaging wasteapply in the EU. This will change the way products are packaged toprotect the environment and people’s health.It will alsocreate opportunities for businesses.

Packaging uses large quantities of raw materials and generates waste that ends up in landfills or the sea. Some chemicals used in packaging can also be harmful. The new rules address these issues by settingrequirements for the manufacturing and composition of all packagingplaced on the EU market. They also require packaging to bereusableorrecoverable,meaning it can be used again or turned into something else after use. From 2030, certain single-use packaging will be banned where more sustainable alternatives are available, such as small ketchup packets or mini shampoo bottles in hotels.

The new measures will make packaging

The EU is working to protect and improve the environment and build a more circular, sustainable, and competitive economy. Thelaw on packagingaddresses the environmental challenges caused by packaging waste, harmonises rules for businesses across the single market, and creates opportunities for businesses involved in recycling and sustainable packaging solutions.

Packaging waste regulation - factsheet

Packaging and packaging waste - facts