PPWR Readiness

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) was adopted in 2024 and replaces the old Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC). Unlike a directive, a regulation applies directly across all EU member states without national transposition. This means one set of rules for the entire EU market.

The PPWR introduces binding targets for recycled content, recyclability requirements, restrictions on certain packaging formats, and new labelling obligations. For companies with complex packaging portfolios, preparation needs to start now because the first compliance deadlines begin in 2030.

TaxSync provides the tools to assess where your packaging stands today against PPWR requirements and what changes you need to make before each deadline.

Recycled Content Targets

The PPWR sets mandatory minimum recycled content targets for plastic packaging, measured as a percentage of plastic weight per packaging unit:

From 2030:

Contact-sensitive packaging (e.g., food-contact PET bottles): 10% recycled content.

Single-use plastic beverage bottles: 30% recycled content.

Other plastic packaging: 35% recycled content.

From 2040:

Contact-sensitive packaging: 50% recycled content.

Single-use plastic beverage bottles: 65% recycled content.

Other plastic packaging: 65% recycled content.

TaxSync evaluates each of your packaging items against these targets. The platform shows you which products already meet the 2030 thresholds, which ones are close, and which need significant changes. You can model "what-if" scenarios: for example, what happens to your compliance position if you switch a component from virgin PP to 40% rPP.

Recyclability Requirements

Under the PPWR, all packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable. This is phased in:

From 2030: All packaging must be "designed for recycling" based on design-for-recycling criteria established by the European Commission. Packaging that does not meet these criteria cannot be placed on the EU market.

From 2035: Packaging must be recyclable "at scale", meaning collection and recycling infrastructure must actually exist for that packaging type and material in practice.

TaxSync assesses your packaging designs against RecyClass guidelines, KIDV recyclability protocols, and the emerging EU harmonised criteria. The platform flags components that are likely to fail: carbon black colorants (invisible to NIR sorters), multi-material laminates, non-detachable labels covering more than a threshold percentage of surface area, and problematic adhesive residues.

For each flagged item, TaxSync suggests alternatives: mono-material structures, compatible colorants, wash-off adhesives, or different material combinations that maintain functional requirements while improving recyclability scores.

Declaration of Conformity (DoC) Generator

From 12 August 2026, packaging cannot be placed on the EU market without a valid EU Declaration of Conformity. TaxSync generates DoC documents that follow the structure mandated by PPWR Annex VIII.

 

What the DoC contains:

  • Unique identification number traceable to your internal system (e.g., SAP material number or GTIN)
  • Full identification of the economic operator: name, trade name, registered address, and GLN
  • A statement that the declaration is issued under the sole responsibility of the economic operator
  • Identification of the packaging or packaging component (description, dimensions, weight, material composition)
  • GS1 trade item data including GTIN, dimensions, gross weight, and sustainability attributes where available
  • Reference to the applicable PPWR requirements (Chapter III, Articles 5-11) and harmonised standards or technical specifications applied
  • Date of issue, signatory identification, and digital signature

 

How it works:

  • TaxSync runs a compliance assessment against every applicable PPWR requirement for each packaging format
  • The assessment checks recycled content against the 2030 and 2040 targets, evaluates recyclability under recognised frameworks, and validates packaging minimisation rules
  • If all requirements pass, the platform generates a DoC in PDF format ready for signing and filing
  • Batch generation lets you produce DoC documents across your entire product portfolio at once
  • All issued DoCs are versioned, timestamped, and stored with full audit trail for 10 years as required by PPWR

 

Technical Documentation:

Behind each DoC sits a technical file that documents the evidence supporting the declaration. TaxSync lets you upload and link test reports, material certificates, recyclability assessments, and supplier declarations to each product. The evidence library maintains version history and expiry tracking.

Packaging Minimisation and Restrictions

The PPWR introduces restrictions on specific packaging formats. Certain single-use packaging will be banned outright from 2030, including single-use packaging for fruits and vegetables under 1.5 kg, miniature toiletry packaging in hotels, and shrink wrap for grouped containers at retail.

The regulation also requires packaging minimisation: you must demonstrate that your packaging is the minimum size and weight necessary to ensure product safety, hygiene, and consumer acceptance. Over-packaging (excessive void space, unnecessary secondary packaging) will no longer be permitted.

TaxSync tracks these restrictions against your product catalogue. When you import your packaging data, the platform checks each item against the restricted formats list and flags products that need redesign before the 2030 deadline.

Labelling and Digital Product Passport

The PPWR requires standardised labelling on all packaging to indicate material composition and proper disposal. By 2028, the European Commission will establish harmonised label designs, and all packaging will need to carry them.

Additionally, the regulation introduces a digital product passport (DPP) requirement for packaging. The DPP will contain information about material composition, recycled content, recyclability, and proper disposal instructions, accessible via a QR code or similar data carrier on each packaging item.

TaxSync is building DPP support into the platform. When the technical specifications are finalised, the system will generate DPP-compliant datasets from your existing packaging data and produce the required machine-readable output for each SKU.