The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, PPWR, applies from 12 August 2026. For some UK businesses, that may still sound a long way off. In practice, it is close enough to start asking some sensible questions now.

PPWR is an EU regulation, not a UK one. But if your business exports into Europe, supplies customers who do, or operates in an EU-linked supply chain, it may start to influence what is expected from your packaging.

That matters because PPWR is pushing packaging in a clear direction. Less unnecessary material. Better recyclability. More attention on packaging design, reuse, labelling and recycled content. The European Commission has described the Regulation as part of a move towards packaging that is more recyclable and less wasteful, with wider measures including mandatory recyclability by 2030, minimum recycled content in plastic packaging and reuse targets.

For most businesses, the question is not whether they need to panic. They do not. The question is whether the packaging they use today is likely to stand up well to tighter customer expectations tomorrow.

What should businesses be reviewing now?

Ahead of August 2026, the most useful step is not a legal deep dive. It is a practical packaging review.

That review should start with a few straightforward questions.

•   Are any of your products or packaging going into the EU market, either directly or through customers?
•   Which packaging lines are most likely to come under pressure on recyclability, packaging reduction or material choice?
•   Do you already have the packaging data you would need if a customer asked for more detail, including material type, weight and pack format?
•   Are there lines where you may be using more packaging than you need?
•   Could any formats be reviewed now, while there is still time to make sensible changes rather than rushed ones later?

One area to keep an eye on

Transport packaging is a good example of how this is developing in real time.

In February 2026, the European Commission confirmed that pallet wrapping and straps would be exempt from an earlier 100% reuse requirement in certain circumstances. At the same time, the wider direction of travel under PPWR remains the same, with reuse and packaging design still very much part of the picture.

That tells businesses two key things:

First, the detail may continue to evolve.

Second, the overall pressure on packaging performance, material use and design is not going away.

Why this matters for Samuel Grant Packaging’s customers

Businesses are already dealing with more questions around packaging than they were a few years ago.

•   How recyclable is it?
•   Can it be reduced?
•   Is there a better material option?
•   What data do we actually have?
•   Are we likely to be challenged on this by customers or supply chain partners?

Those questions do not just sit with compliance teams. They affect purchasing, operations, warehousing, product protection and cost.

At Samuel Grant Packaging, we help customers take a practical view of packaging. That means looking at protection, performance, material use and cost, while also helping customers build a clearer picture of the packaging they buy and use. It is the same thinking behind our wider approach to packaging audits, material reviews and compliance support.

In many cases, the right next step is not a major packaging overhaul. It is a structured review of the packaging you already use, so you can see where changes may improve efficiency, support recyclability or simply put you in a stronger position for future customer and market demands.

PPWR and UK EPR are separate regimes.

UK EPR is the UK’s packaging producer responsibility system.

PPWR is the EU’s broader packaging regulation.

They are not the same law, but they are moving businesses in a similar direction, with more attention on packaging data, recyclability, design and waste reduction.

Read our EPR guidance

A practical next step

If your business sells into Europe, supplies EU-linked customers, or simply wants a clearer view of whether current packaging is still fit for purpose, now is a good time to review it properly.

A packaging audit is often the best place to start.

Useful links

PPWR sits alongside other packaging regulations, which are increasingly linked

•  Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – reporting and waste costs

•  Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) – recyclability-based fee structure

•  Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) – tax based on recycled content

Together, these influence how packaging is specified, measured and costed.