Since 12 August 2026, new packaging rules apply in Germany.<\/b> The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025\/40 \u2014 the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) \u2014 together with the new German Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG), significantly changes the existing legal framework. For companies, this means new requirements concerning packaging, producer responsibility, registration and recycling.<\/p>\n
PPWR replaces the previous EU Packaging Directive<\/b><\/p>\n
The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025 and applies from 12 August 2026 across the EU. Unlike a directive, the Regulation applies directly and does not require full implementation into national law. A significant number of the new requirements therefore apply directly to companies operating with packaging.<\/p>\n
In Germany, the European rules are supplemented by the new VerpackDG. From 12 August 2026, the previous VerpackG is replaced by a new national framework designed to support the practical implementation of the PPWR requirements in Germany.<\/p>\n
What is changing for companies?<\/b><\/p>\n
One of the most important changes concerns which company is considered the producer of packaging and therefore bears the relevant legal obligations<\/b>. The new definition under the PPWR is particularly important for companies that import packaged goods or sell products under their own brand.<\/p>\n
Key obligations such as registration, data reporting and, where applicable, participation in extended producer responsibility systems remain in place. However, the allocation of responsibilities and the conditions under which these obligations apply are changing.<\/p>\n
Particular attention should be paid to companies importing goods from third countries. Under the new rules, the allocation of responsibility for packaging may change, as may the information requirements applicable to producers and importers.<\/p>\n
Companies based outside Germany that sell empty packaging or packaged products directly to end consumers in Germany without having a branch in Germany must also appoint an authorised representative from 12 August 2026. Registration in the LUCID Packaging Register remains the company’s own responsibility.<\/p>\n
New requirements for packaging<\/b><\/p>\n
The PPWR is not limited to improving the collection and recycling of packaging waste. The new rules require environmental considerations to be taken into account already at the packaging design stage.<\/p>\n
These requirements include packaging recyclability and, gradually, the use of recycled materials in plastic packaging. In addition, from 12 August 2026, restrictions apply to PFAS in certain food-contact packaging above specified thresholds. Other requirements will become applicable progressively in the coming years.<\/p>\n
Reusable packaging and reuse systems are also becoming increasingly important. The PPWR introduces mandatory reuse targets in various sectors, with a significant part of these requirements applying from 2030.<\/p>\n
Companies therefore need to consider not only the requirements already applicable from August 2026, but also future obligations that may require changes to packaging, production processes and supply chains.<\/p>\n
What should companies do now?<\/b><\/p>\n
Companies placing products on the German market should not wait for the first regulatory inspection before reviewing the new requirements. The entire packaging chain should be assessed as a priority.<\/p>\n
In particular, companies should determine:<\/p>\n
Particular attention should be paid to imports and cross-border supply chains<\/b>. Under international supply chains, changes to the definition of the producer may affect which company is legally responsible for complying with packaging requirements.<\/p>\n
Legal risks and liability<\/b><\/p>\n
The new packaging rules are not merely environmental recommendations. Mandatory requirements under the PPWR and German national legislation must be complied with in practice. Violations may result in administrative measures, restrictions on placing products on the market and financial sanctions.<\/p>\n
For companies, a comprehensive packaging compliance review<\/b> is therefore becoming increasingly important. Packaging materials, supplier agreements, the allocation of responsibility within the supply chain and internal documentation processes should all be reviewed against the new legal framework.<\/p>\n
It is particularly important to distinguish between requirements that apply from 12 August 2026 and those that will be introduced gradually. This can help companies avoid a situation in which their processes comply with the rules currently in force but are not prepared for the next stage of regulation.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n
The application of the PPWR and VerpackDG from 12 August 2026 marks a new stage in European packaging law. Companies should distinguish carefully between requirements that already apply<\/b> and obligations that will be introduced gradually through 2030 and beyond<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Companies that manufacture, import or sell goods in Germany should review their packaging registration processes, allocation of responsibility and product design to determine whether they comply with the new requirements.<\/p>\n
An early legal review can help reduce compliance risks and avoid additional costs associated with urgent changes to packaging, contractual arrangements or internal processes.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Since 12 August 2026, new packaging rules apply in Germany. The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025\/40 \u2014 the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) \u2014 together with the new German Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG), significantly changes the existing legal framework. For companies, this means new requirements concerning packaging, producer responsibility, registration […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[207,215,186,1011,221,231,195,1442,1451,1444,1454,1452,1439,1453,1443,1001,225,1440,1441,1438,177,1446,1448,4,1449,1447,1450,1445,992],"class_list":["post-724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-compliance","tag-corporate-law","tag-deutschland","tag-environmental-law","tag-eu-law","tag-eu-recht","tag-germany","tag-herstellerverantwortung","tag-lucid","tag-nachhaltigkeit","tag-packaging","tag-packaging-law","tag-ppwr","tag-producer-responsibility","tag-recycling","tag-umweltrecht","tag-unternehmensrecht","tag-verpackdg","tag-verpackungsgesetz","tag-verpackungsrecht","tag-germaniya","tag-evropejskij-soyuz","tag-importyory","tag-korporativnoe-pravo","tag-pererabotka","tag-proizvoditeli","tag-upakovka","tag-upakovochnoe-pravo","tag-ekologicheskoe-pravo"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=724"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":725,"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/724\/revisions\/725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sugrobov.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}