The European Parliament has officially approved a correction to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This final version was adopted during the Parliament’s plenary session yesterday.

The European Council, representing the 27 member states, is expected to formally adopt the regulation in December. It will then be published in the EU Official Journal, coming into effect in 2025.

The PPWR outlines specific goals for reducing packaging waste by 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040, with a particular focus on reducing plastic packaging.

By 2030, all packaging—except lightweight wood, cork, textile, rubber, ceramic, porcelain, and wax—must meet stringent recyclability standards. A new performance grading system will classify packaging recyclability into grades A, B, or C, with grade A being the highest at 95% recyclable material.

The regulation also sets recycling targets: 50% for plastic packaging by 2025 and 55% by 2030. Specific recycled content requirements are outlined, including 65% recycled content for single-use plastic beverage bottles by 2040, 50% for PET contact-sensitive packaging, and 65% for other packaging.

Furthermore, by 2029, 90% of single-use plastic and metal beverage containers up to three liters must be collected through deposit-return schemes or equivalent systems.