4 rates apply from 1 January 2030 at the earliest (3 years after the implementing act on the calculation method, if later), calculated as an average per manufacturing plant and per year: 30% for PET contact-sensitive packaging (50% in 2040), 10% for contact-sensitive packaging made from other plastics (25% in 2040), 30% for single-use beverage bottles (65% in 2040) and 35% for other plastic packaging (65% in 2040). These rates cover only post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR), not production scrap. Limited derogations apply to food-contact packaging where no approved recycling technology is available. Securing a certified PCR supplier is a procurement task taking 6 to 12 months, which companies starting from scratch should begin now.
Read the source article: PPWR packaging regulation: EU 2025/40 changes in 2026