EU packaging rules (PPWR) now apply: what changes for cosmetic packs, and when

The EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) started applying in stages on August 12, 2026. It entered into force in February 2025, and obligations now phase in all the way to 2040.

Timeline from the European Commission

August 12, 2026: food-contact packaging with PFAS above strict limits can no longer be sold
2028: a harmonized EU material label to help people sort waste
2030: limits on empty space, restrictions on some single-use plastic packaging, reuse targets, all packaging recyclable, and mandatory recycled content in plastic packaging

What cosmetic brands should look at now

The first step targets food packaging, but the 2028 and 2030 duties will reach cosmetic packs too.
Mixed-material components like pumps and compacts with mirrors are often named as the hardest part to make recyclable.
Oversized gift sets may need rethinking once empty-space limits kick in.

If you sell in Europe or plan to, are you already aligning packaging development with the 2030 rules?

Source: European Commission — New EU rules on packaging enter into application