PPWR. What it is,
when it applies.
The EU Packaging Regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies directly in all Member States from 12 August 2026. It covers every kind of packaging — including your transport packaging for steel.
What is the PPWR?
PPWR stands for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation — Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste.
It governs the entire life cycle of packaging: design, composition, placing on the market, reuse and waste handling. It covers all packaging regardless of material or origin — industrial, retail and household packaging alike.
The PPWR replaces the previous Packaging Directive 94/62/EC. The decisive difference: a directive has to be transposed into national law, whereas a regulation applies directly — no national implementing act, identical in every Member State.
What applies when?
-
11 Feb 2025
Entry into force
The regulation enters into force. The transition period for businesses begins.
-
12 Aug 2026
General application date
The PPWR provisions become applicable. Directive 94/62/EC is repealed.
-
2030
Recyclability, reuse, empty space
Recyclability performance grades apply. 40 % of transport packaging must be reusable. Grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging must not exceed 50 % empty space.
-
2035
Recycling at scale
Packaging must no longer only be designed for recycling — it must be collectable, sortable and recyclable at scale.
-
2038 / 2040
Tightening
Stricter recyclability obligations apply from 2038. For 2040 there is an aspirational target of 70 % reusable transport packaging.
Who is bound by it?
As an EU regulation, the PPWR applies directly to all economic operators that place, fill, distribute or use packaging in the EU. No national implementing act is required.
Anyone packing and shipping steel or sheet metal is therefore an economic operator under the regulation — regardless of whether the packaging is bought in or produced in-house.
Manufacturers
Conformity assessment, EU declaration of conformity, technical documentation (5 years, 10 years for reusable packaging).
Importers
Must ensure a conformity assessment has been carried out and keep the documentation available.
Distributors
Verify that the packaging complies with EU rules and that manufacturers and importers have met their obligations.
Fillers & users
Carry the empty-space limit and the reuse targets. Anyone using reusable packaging must participate in a reuse system.
Suppliers
Must provide manufacturers with all information and evidence needed to demonstrate compliance.
What it means for steel packaging.
Sheet metal packages travel on pallets with squared timber, edge protection, film and strapping. Under the PPWR this is transport packaging — and therefore subject to the 40 % reuse target by 2030 and the empty-space limit.
The critical point is composite material: glued layers, coated timber or inseparable film laminates make separate recovery difficult. The leverage therefore lies in single-material components, reduced material input and a documented return system.
Why CORROpack®
fits here.
The system was engineered for corrosion and transport protection. Its material choice and return programme feed directly into the core PPWR requirements.
Pure materials, no laminates
Five elements, five separable material streams: wood (base structure), plastic (bottom and top layer), steel (edge protection), plastic or steel (strapping). No glued composites.
Less material per package
CORROpack Eco cuts timber use by up to 70 % depending on format. The construction is sized to the load — no empty space from oversizing.
Pallets in circulation
The special pallets are built for repeated rotations. CORROpack cycle provides the matching return system, including quantity and date records per shipment.
Partial removal without destruction
The adhesive-tab system allows opening and resealing without tools. The packaging survives partial removal — a prerequisite for any reuse scheme.
| PPWR requirement | Deadline | CORROpack® contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Recyclable design | from 2030 | Single-material components, separately recoverable |
| Minimising weight and volume | from 12 Aug 2026 | Eco variant: up to 70 % less timber |
| Reusable transport packaging (40 %) | from 2030 | Rotation-ready pallets + CORROpack cycle |
| Take-back and reuse system | from 12 Aug 2026 | Contractual return programme with quantity records |
This mapping is a technical assessment and does not replace a conformity assessment in the individual case. Which obligations apply to you depends on your role as an economic operator and on the specific packaging format.
Reuse needs
a system.
The PPWR requires operators using reusable packaging to have a working take-back and reuse system in place. CORROpack cycle is exactly that: contractually agreed, with documented return of pallets, squared timber and edge protection.
View CORROpack cyclePPWR — answered briefly.
Further reading.
- Regulation (EU) 2025/40 — EUR-Lex Full text of the regulation in the Official Journal of the EU (OJ L, 2025/40, 22 January 2025).
- Summary of the regulation — EUR-Lex Editorial summary of the main obligations and deadlines.
- Packaging waste — European Commission DG Environment topic page with timeline, guidelines and FAQ.
This page summarises publicly available information on Regulation (EU) 2025/40 and is intended as initial orientation only. It does not constitute legal advice and replaces neither a review of the regulation text nor a conformity assessment in the individual case. Status: August 2026.
Get your packaging ready.
We will review with you which materials you use today and where CORROpack® or CORROpack cycle can sensibly step in.