Upcoming European Union Legislation Will Impact New Zealand Exporters: Understanding the EU's New Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
16/07/2026
Is your business compliant with the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)? The PPWR’s wide range of requirements and targets will come into effect with a staggered approach, starting from mid-2026.
Is your business compliant with the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)?
The PPWR’s wide range of requirements and targets will come into effect with a staggered approach, starting from mid-2026.
It represents a major shift across the supply chain, both in the EU and globally. The regulation updates an existing directive and is designed to push businesses to adopt more sustainable packaging practices, reduce waste, and improve rates of recycling and re-use. This new legislation is in alignment with the expectation of businesses to take meeting their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) obligations and commitments seriously.
What The Regulation Includes:
- Recyclability of packaging
- Minimum recycled content
- Minimising substances of concern
- Compostable packaging and labelling
- Packaging minimisation
- Single-use plastics ban
- Re-use and re-fill targets
- Harmonised labelling system and green claims.
Why It Matters:
Businesses will need to guarantee that packaging material placed on the EU market will conform with the key PPWR provisions. In the instance of non-compliance, the goods could be rejected at the European boarder.
Businesses trading both directly and indirectly on the EU market will need to conduct their own analysis on how this regulation will affect their business, particularly considering the packaging demands created by New Zealand’s distance to the EU market.
How The Snell Advantage Can Help Your Business Manage Risk:
Due to the stringent and internationally recognised standards which enabled our achievement of FSSC 22000, our approach is rooted in strong supplier relationships with those whose values align with our own, which includes a commitment to ESG compliance. Learn more about FSSC 22000, click here.
Our team of procurement specialists continue to work closely with our suppliers from across New Zealand, China, Malaysia, South Korea and many other countries to ensure compliance with the EU’s new PPWR legislation which comes into effect next month.