EU Packaging Law Looms as Businesses Seek Regulatory Clarity

World 19.05.2026

Source: www.euractiv.com

With the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation set to take effect soon, businesses in the European soft drinks sector demand clearer compliance guidelines. Current uncertainties threaten their operations and supply chains.

As the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is set to become effective in five months, the European soft drinks sector is urging for immediate clarity on compliance requirements. This sector, which has long been committed to advancing a circular economy for beverage packaging, emphasizes the need for clear and timely guidance to maintain operational continuity.

Currently, 16 EU countries have implemented a Deposit Return System (DRS), and efforts are underway to expand this further. The sector has already exceeded several of its targets, such as using 51.7% recycled PET in plastic bottles, surpassing the 2025 goal of 50% recycled PET. Despite these achievements, businesses face operational challenges due to regulatory ambiguities.

UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, a key industry body, highlights the urgency for harmonized and actionable guidelines. They stress that the forthcoming PPWR Legal Notice, although helpful, will not resolve all uncertainties. Particularly, businesses are concerned about the lack of a harmonized methodology for PFAS in food contact packaging, which could disrupt the Single Market.

The sector also faces challenges with single-use plastic grouped packaging, as guidance is not expected until 2027. This delay could lead to significant supply bottlenecks and transition costs, estimated to exceed €2 billion for the soft drinks sector alone. Businesses need specific guidance on permissible packaging types to ensure compliance with the PPWR by 2030.

Moreover, while reusable packaging models are recognized as crucial, the current exemption framework does not adequately account for the progress made by some Member States in improving packaging circularity through efficient collection and recycling systems. Industry leaders call for clear exemption guidelines to facilitate informed investment decisions.

The call to action is clear: EU institutions must collaborate to expedite the provision of regulatory clarity. This is essential to address the pressing operational issues that businesses face and to ensure a smooth transition to the new regulatory environment.