Today, 12 August 2026, marks the general application date of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The PPWR is one of the most far-reaching pieces of EU product legislation introduced in recent years, with implications that extend across almost every sector and product category. While its objectives are laudable, significant questions remain about proportionality, implementation and enforcement.

On 13 April 2026, the OECD published a detailed report in its Series on Risk Management of Chemicals examining how to validate the chemical content of recycled plastics across different applications and regulatory regimes. The report highlights a critical issue at the intersection of circular economy policy and chemical safety regulation: ensuring that recycled materials do not reintroduce or concentrate substances of concern.