It’s PPWR day: ambitious, far-reaching and already problematic

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.