PPWR and reusable transport packaging: what applies from August 2026

This overview is for orientation only and is not legal advice. Check the Regulation and the Commission’s guidance for your situation.

Key dates

• 12 August 2026 — the PPWR applies generally. Conformity-assessment and declaration duties apply to packaging placed on the EU market; packaging claimed as reusable must meet the reusability criteria and operate within a reuse system.
• From 2030 — reuse targets for transport packaging (pallets, crates, boxes and similar) start to apply to certain flows.

What "reusable" means in practice

Packaging counts as reusable only if it is designed for multiple rotations and is actually used in a system that collects, cleans/reconditions and puts it back into service. A durable container used once and discarded is not reusable packaging in the PPWR sense.

Documentation you will be asked for

• A declaration of conformity per packaging type (kept 10 years for reusable packaging).
• Evidence on substances of concern and heavy metals.
• Information supporting reusability (design for rotations, robustness).

What a supplier provides — and what stays with you

We provide manufacturer information on materials, substances and construction, plus test data where available. The reuse system and the declaration duties sit with the economic operator placing the packaging on the market — typically the company that fills and ships it.

Buying for 2030 now

Standardised formats (1200 × 1000 / 1200 × 800 FLCs, 600 × 400 containers, VDA KLT) make pooling and reuse easier and keep options open for future reuse targets.