Rules & regulations

Exemptions within the PPWR

Anneke van der Meijs
Anneke Van Der Meijs
QA specialist

Table of Contents

  • Rules & regulations

Provisional exemption for a number of packaging formats

The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) imposes strict requirements on packaging reuse from 2030. However, Article 29 of this regulation provides scope for exemptions, and recent news confirms that a number of commonly used packaging formats are provisionally excluded from the reuse obligation. The word provisional means that the European Commission can review the exemption. No clear timeline has yet been established for when this will be re-evaluated.

What has been provisionally changed?

Based on a recent clarification from NRK and the interpretation of Article 29 PPWR, the following packaging is (provisionally) exempt from the reuse targets:

All bags and applications in which you store food, such as:

  • sandwich bags;
  • freezer bags;
  • cling film;

These packaging types (preferably made from mono material) fall under the category “flexible packaging in direct contact with food”, where hygiene and food safety outweigh reuse considerations. This provisionally eliminates the need for retailers to establish collection systems for these specific packaging types.

Food Storage Bags

What does this mean for retail?

For buyers, category managers, sustainability managers and quality managers, this means that certain packaging solutions can provisionally continue to be used without adaptation to reuse systems. This provides operational stability and scope to work in phases on sustainable alternatives.

Not everything is clear yet, but Packit closely monitors the national implementation of the PPWR and will inform you as soon as there is more clarity on this.

Packit

At Packit, we combine knowledge of legislation and regulations with innovative packaging solutions. We are happy to advise you on the impact of the PPWR on your assortment and help you make future-proof choices.

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