ECOS | Environmental Coalition on Standards

26 March 2026

Unpacking the EU’s packaging regulations – best practices for packaging standards

Implementing the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), now depends on technical rules and harmonised European standards. In our latest factsheet we provide an overview of the PPWR's upcoming milestones and targets on packaging minimisation, reuse, and refill - as well as key insights from experts on these three pillars of standardisation under the EU's new packaging rules.

The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), published in January 2025, introduces essential measures to prevent and reduce packaging waste.

Without strong standards – weak enforcement, loopholes, or fragmentation across Member States could occur. To ensure that they best serve society and the environment, these standards must be developed collaboratively by diverse experts, including industry and civil society.

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