Third-Party Packaging Certification Ensuring Compliance: Examining PPWR Preparedness
The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) came into force on February 11, 2025, with most provisions taking effect from August 12, 2026. This landmark regulation aims to increase the recycling rate of plastic packaging to 65% by 2025 and 70% by 2030.
Certification plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with the PPWR. Certification schemes, which include chemical screening and documentation reviews, assess packaging against recyclability criteria aligned with EU methodologies. They provide documented proof of recyclability grades and design conformity, offering independent verification required under Article 7(10) of the PPWR.
The PPWR mandates recyclability and 'design for recycling' rules for all packaging by 2030. Certification bodies conduct conformity assessments aligned with EU requirements, ensuring that claims made on packaging are substantiated and legally defensible. They also implement chain-of-custody systems that track materials from source to final product.
Certification schemes provide verified data that can be embedded in digital product passports, a requirement under the PPWR. This data helps manufacturers demonstrate compliance with the regulation's labelling requirements and digital tool implementation, including the Digital Product Passport.
The PPWR bans PFAS for food-contact packaging from August 12, 2026. Engaging a trusted and reliable certification body can turn the PPWR regulatory countdown into a business advantage, helping businesses address the core compliance challenges posed by the PPWR.
Europe generates 186.5 kg of packaging waste per inhabitant annually, with a 21% increase since 2011. Plastic packaging accounts for 16 million tonnes in Europe, but only 41% of it is recycled. The PPWR also mandates minimum recycled content percentages, which rise to 10-35% in 2030 and to 25-65% by 2040. Certification programs verify the mass balance or physical traceability of recycled content and ensure compliance with post-consumer waste sourcing and processing requirements.
A certification body with global reach can provide additional efficiency that scales across borders. European headquarters can get their international converters audited under PPWR-aligned systems, smoothing compliance from initial pack design all the way to final distribution.
While the name of the certification body that can carry out certification for packaging according to the PPWR requirements across the entire supply chain and operates globally is not explicitly stated, international standards bodies like ISCC Plus, PEFC, and FSC are involved. Henkel, for instance, has internal labs for recyclability testing.
Certification reduces the administrative burden by consolidating multiple compliance checks into one audit. It offers businesses a competitive edge by demonstrating their commitment to sustainable practices and compliance with the PPWR. As the PPWR deadline approaches, engaging a reliable certification body is becoming increasingly important for businesses operating in the EU.
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