European Commission confirms PPWR obligations to start in 2026

The European Commission will stick to the planned start date of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). In a letter to the joint body of German packaging producer responsibility organisations (Gemeinsame Stelle dualer Systeme) and the members of the German Bundestag, EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall made it clear that the new obligations, including the revised manufacturer definition under extended producer responsibility (EPR), will apply as planned from 12 August 2026.

The German organisations had raised concerns about the challenges of implementing the regulation mid-year, warning of serious legal, financial and systemic risks. The summer changeover would lead to “two legal regimes within one year” and endangered planning and contractual security for extended producer responsibility systems, municipalities and manufacturers. The risk of a system breakdown is particularly critical: duplicate contracts, parallel data reporting and unclear financial flows could lead to funding gaps, disruptions to municipal services and destabilisation of EPR structures.

European Commission confirms PPWR obligations to start in 2026

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