As of 12 August 2026, the European regulation on packaging and packaging waste, known as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), will come into force. Behind this technical acronym lies a major overhaul of the regulatory framework for packaging.
What changes can packaging industry stakeholders expect?
As a specialist in ultra-thin films, Bolloré Packaging Films relies on advanced double-bubble and triple-bubble technologies to develop high-performance films while minimizing material consumption. This new regulation is set to accelerate the transition towards more resource-efficient and sustainable packaging solutions. Let’s take a closer look at what the PPWR means for the packaging industry.
The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) establishes the new legal framework introduced by the European Union for packaging and packaging waste. Its objective is to create clearer, stricter, and, above all, harmonized rules for all packaging placed on the European market. The previous directive left significant disparities between Member States and stakeholders across the packaging value chain. With the PPWR, the goal is to standardize practices and provide a single regulatory framework for all affected companies, whether they are manufacturers, importers, or distributors.
In practical terms, every stakeholder will now have to comply with specific requirements regarding data collection and reliability, documentation, retention of declarations of conformity, and labeling obligations. As a result, each stage of the packaging lifecycle comes with enhanced responsibilities. The PPWR covers all packaging, from design through to end-of-life management, with a clear ambition: to make all packaging recyclable by 2040, following its official entry into force on August 12, 2026.
Bolloré Innovative Thin Films continues its commitments in line with evolving regulations
This is particularly relevant for Bolloré Innovative Thin Films (ITF), a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group and a specialist in ultra-thin films. Certified ISCC PLUS, the company ensures the traceability, sustainability, and quality of the raw materials used in the manufacturing of its films. Despite the high quality of its products, the company is also impacted by this new regulation. Through its Packaging Films® brand, Bolloré ITF develops packaging solutions designed to protect products, optimize their packaging performance, and enhance their shelf appeal.
The introduction of the PPWR marks a significant turning point, as it will fundamentally transform the way packaging is designed and materials are selected. For the Bolloré Group subsidiary, this means continuing its innovation efforts to deliver ever more efficient solutions while addressing growing recyclability and sustainability requirements.
More than just a regulatory constraint, the PPWR also represents a genuine opportunity for Bolloré Innovative Thin Films to strengthen its role as a committed player in the transition toward more responsible packaging solutions.
The PPWR is not merely a regulatory evolution; it is an invitation to reinvent the packaging of tomorrow.
