Article written by Rafael Miguel – Recycling and Circular Economy Market Manager at GAIKER – See original
The publication of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, known as the PPWR, marks a turning point for the entire packaging value chain. This is not merely a new regulatory requirement, but a structural change in the way we design, manufacture, use, reuse and recycle packaging.
The aim of this new regulation is clear: to reduce unnecessary packaging, promote reuse, refilling and recycling, harmonise rules across the European market and contribute to the transition towards a circular and climate-neutral economy. The Regulation introduces sustainability and labelling requirements throughout the entire life cycle of packaging, from its design and composition to its management as waste.
From recycling to eco-design: the new PPWR paradigm
One of the most significant aspects of the PPWR is that it shifts the focus from end-of-life waste management to the design of packaging from the outset. In this new context, it will not be enough for packaging to be technically recyclable in theory. It must be designed so that it can be collected, sorted and recycled on a large scale. Furthermore, the Regulation establishes a system of recyclability standards applicable from 2030 and introduces stricter requirements from 2038.
This change will have direct implications on businesses. Packaging must minimise weight and volume whilst maintaining its functionality, avoid unnecessary components and meet increasingly stringent criteria regarding recyclability, reuse, recycled content and traceability. In the case of plastic packaging, the Regulation sets out minimum content requirements for recycled material derived from post-consumer plastic waste, subject to certain exceptions, and maintains specific requirements for compostable packaging, which must comply with industrial composting standards.
In this context, bioplastics take on a particularly interesting role, but one that is also more demanding. Its contribution to sustainability cannot be based solely on the renewable origin of the raw material. The future competitiveness of these materials will depend on their real performance within the system: their functionality, compatibility with processing methods, recyclability, compostability where applicable, safety in use and integration into existing collection and treatment infrastructures. A bio-based material is not automatically circular; it must be proven to be so both technically and environmentally.
For this reason, the transition driven by the PPWR should not be seen merely as a regulatory challenge, but as an opportunity for innovation. Companies will need to review formulations, redesign multi-layer structures, evaluate single-material alternatives, incorporate recycled or bio-based materials where appropriate, validate functional properties and generate technical evidence to support regulatory compliance. The EU Declaration of Conformity and the associated technical documentation will be key to demonstrating that the packaging complies with the applicable requirements.
GAIKER’s role in the transition towards more circular packaging
This is where GAIKER can play a decisive role. The transition towards more circular packaging requires technical expertise, experimental capabilities and a holistic view of materials, processes, the end product and end-of-life. GAIKER is committed to circular plastics derived from chemical recycling, mechanical recycling or renewable resources, including bioplastics, with strategic applications in sectors such as packaging, the automotive industry, construction, electrical and electronics, textiles and agriculture.
From a practical perspective, companies will need support in several areas: the selection and validation of recycled or bio-based materials, recyclability assessment, physico-chemical characterisation, thermal and mechanical analysis, migration studies, barrier properties, moisture resistance, ageing tests, and analysis using FTIR, DSC, TGA or microscopy, amongst others.
The PPWR will also require closer collaboration between packaging manufacturers, packagers, recyclers, waste management operators, public authorities, distributors and technology centres. Circularity will not be achieved through isolated decisions, but through coordinated value chains capable of designing packaging that is functional for industry, safe for consumers and compatible with existing collection, sorting and recycling systems.
The implementation of the PPWR should not be viewed merely as regulatory pressure, but as an opportunity to anticipate, stand out from the crowd and develop more robust, sustainable and competitive packaging solutions. Companies that start adapting their materials, designs and processes now will be better placed to meet the 2030 requirements and the even stricter demands that will follow.
GAIKER aims to support companies throughout this process: from identifying technical challenges to the experimental validation of new packaging solutions, including the development of circular materials, the assessment of recyclability, the characterisation of performance and the generation of technical evidence to facilitate decision-making.
The circular economy for packaging will not merely be a legal obligation. It will be an opportunity to redesign products, reduce environmental impact, increase resource efficiency and move towards a more innovative, resilient and sustainable industry.
The PPWR is redefining the rules of the game for packaging in Europe. Anticipating is not just about delivering sooner: it is innovating better.
Further information: https://www.gaiker.es/soluciones/envase-y-embalaje/
