The application of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) began on 12 August 2026. The regulation will introduce new requirements for packaging and the entire packaging value chain in phases, extending all the way to 2040.
At Jaakkoo-Taara, we have been actively preparing for the requirements of the PPWR. Our Quality Manager, Oskari Vuorio, says that the entry into application of the regulation has quickly become visible throughout the entire packaging materials value chain.
“Our customers are very well informed about the PPWR requirements. We have received the necessary assurances from our suppliers confirming that the raw materials and chemicals we use comply with the requirements of the regulation. Based on this information, I have been able to prepare PPWR statements for the packaging materials we supply. In a short period of time, JT has become an even more important compliance partner for our customers,” Vuorio explains.
In its initial phase, the PPWR introduces obligations related to, among other things, restrictions on hazardous substances, conformity assessment, technical documentation and EU declarations of conformity. Some of the upcoming requirements, such as those concerning the reduction of empty space in sales packaging, will become applicable at a later stage.
Vuorio believes that manufacturers should start preparing for the upcoming requirements well in advance.
“Meeting the requirements may mean designing new box structures, which requires new printing materials and new tools. That’s why it’s worth evaluating your own packaging structures even before the requirements come into effect.”
Although the PPWR has been seen as a broad and complex set of requirements, Vuorio also sees opportunities in it.
“I believe that once the initial challenges and uncertainties are gradually resolved, demand for Finnish and European packaging expertise will grow. At the same time, the competitive advantage of low-cost imports may decrease.”