PPWR Is Now Applicable: How Harvest Packaging Is Preparing for the EU Market

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Regulation (EU) 2025/40, became generally applicable on 12 August 2026, marking an important new stage for packaging manufacturers, importers and distributors supplying the European market.

For food packaging businesses, the new regulatory environment is placing greater attention on material safety, restricted substances, sustainability and regulatory documentation. For European buyers, choosing the right packaging supplier increasingly means looking beyond product specifications and price alone.

What PPWR Means for Food Packaging Buyers

As PPWR requirements continue to take effect, European importers, distributors and foodservice packaging buyers are paying closer attention to how packaging materials are selected, controlled and documented.

Reliable compliance documentation is becoming an increasingly important part of supplier evaluation. Buyers need greater transparency around packaging materials and greater confidence that their suppliers can respond to changing regulatory requirements.

For packaging suppliers, this means compliance cannot be treated as a one-time task. It requires ongoing attention to material selection, supplier management, third-party testing and regulatory developments.

How Harvest Packaging Is Preparing

At Harvest Packaging, we have been reviewing our food packaging materials and compliance documentation in preparation for the evolving PPWR requirements.

Our approach focuses on several areas: selecting appropriate packaging materials, strengthening supplier and material controls, carrying out third-party testing where relevant, and continuing to monitor regulatory developments that may affect products supplied to the European market.

This approach covers two of our key food packaging material systems: fiber pulp food packaging and PE-lined paper food packaging, including kraft paper takeaway containers and other foodservice packaging solutions.

Third-Party Testing as Part of Our Compliance Preparation

As part of this work, representative fiber pulp and PE-lined paper packaging materials have undergone third-party SGS testing against relevant requirements under Article 5(4) and Article 5(5) of Regulation (EU) 2025/40.

The tested materials received Pass conclusions for the relevant heavy metals, tested PFAS and total fluorine requirements.

The SGS reports also cover multiple representative Harvest Packaging products and indicate applicability to products manufactured from the same tested materials, providing additional documentation support for customers sourcing these packaging ranges.

Third-party testing is one part of our broader compliance preparation. Rather than treating compliance as a single test or certificate, we continue to review materials, documentation and applicable regulatory requirements as they develop.

Supporting European Food Packaging Buyers

For European customers, choosing a packaging supplier is increasingly about more than finding the right size, design or price.

Material consistency, reliable documentation, product traceability and a supplier’s ability to respond to regulatory changes are becoming equally important considerations.

Harvest Packaging aims to support customers with a combination of food packaging products and the documentation needed for European sourcing and supplier evaluation.

Our current packaging solutions include fiber pulp containers, kraft paper food packaging, PE-lined paper containers and other takeaway and foodservice packaging products, with supporting product specifications, samples and available compliance documentation.

As PPWR requirements continue to be implemented in stages, we will continue reviewing the requirements applicable to our products and updating our compliance documentation where necessary.

Looking for food packaging solutions for the European market?

Contact Harvest Packaging to discuss suitable packaging options, product specifications, material choices, samples, customization and available compliance documentation.