Since 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has generally applied across the European Union. This means that the PPWR is no longer a regulatory issue for the future, even though certain requirements will become applicable gradually at later dates.

For companies placing packaging or packaged products on the EU market or importing them into the EU, the new requirements have therefore become a practical reality. But how clear is it already what this means specifically for your own business?

• Which PPWR requirements actually apply to us?
• What role do we have within the value chain?
• What obligations and responsibilities arise from this role?

These questions are crucial. The scope of the PPWR is broad, but the specific requirements are not the same for every company. The PPWR further develops the existing regulatory framework for packaging and considers the entire packaging lifecycle, from manufacturing and placing products on the market through to disposal. Among others, it addresses producers, importers and distributors of packaging and packaged goods.

As a result, numerous companies along the value chain may be affected. However, the obligations that apply in each individual case depend, among other factors, on the company’s role, business model, packaging concerned and relevant market. Depending on these factors, companies may face registration and reporting obligations as well as requirements relating to conformity, design, labelling, take-back and information. In addition, while the PPWR establishes a harmonised legal framework across Europe, questions of interpretation and different timelines for individual requirements remain.

For companies, this means that a general understanding of the regulation alone is not enough. What matters is translating the regulatory requirements into the reality of the individual business.

The key question: Where do we currently stand?

Before launching extensive measures, companies should first gain clarity about their current situation. What role does the company play within the value chain? Which requirements are actually relevant to its business model and packaging flows? And which existing data, processes and structures need to be considered?

This initial assessment helps companies move beyond viewing the PPWR simply as an abstract catalogue of regulatory requirements and instead evaluate their own exposure in a structured way. The reverse perspective is equally important: identifying which requirements are currently not relevant. This can help avoid unnecessary effort and ensure that resources are focused on the topics that genuinely matter.

PPWR Quick Check: Gain clarity about your current situation in the short term

This is exactly where our PPWR Quick Check comes in.

It provides companies with a structured starting point for addressing the PPWR. Rather than examining every requirement in the abstract, the focus is on the company’s specific situation. As part of the assessment, we consider, among other things, the company’s business model and relevant packaging flows, its role within the value chain, and the resulting regulatory requirements and responsibilities. Existing packaging-related data, processes and systems can also be included in the initial assessment.

The result: a structured initial assessment of relevant PPWR requirements, responsibilities, potential compliance gaps and the next appropriate steps.

Above all, the PPWR Quick Check provides transparency about where your company currently stands in relation to the PPWR.

It is deliberately designed as a starting point. The objective is not yet to analyse every compliance gap in detail or develop a complete implementation plan. Instead, it provides a sound initial orientation regarding which topics are relevant and where a more detailed assessment may be useful.

Because before companies can decide what needs to be done, they first need to understand where they stand.