What recycled content does the PPWR require?

From 1 January 2030, minimum shares of post-consumer recyclate apply to plastic packaging:

• 30 % for contact-sensitive packaging with PET as the main component
• 10 % for contact-sensitive packaging made of other plastics
• 30 % for single-use beverage bottles
• 35 % for all other plastic packaging

From 2040 the figures rise to 50 %, 25 %, 65 % and 65 %.

How it is calculated

The figure is an average per manufacturing plant and year, not per individual pack. That is a considerable relief and at the same time a documentation task: anyone relying on the average has to account for the year’s material flows in a verifiable way.

Only post-consumer recyclate counts. Post-industrial recyclate from production waste does not, however high its share.

The exemptions

Exempt are, among others, plastic components making up less than 5 % of the total weight of the packaging unit, compostable plastic packaging and certain packaging for medicinal products, medical devices and dangerous goods. The Commission reviews the list of exemptions by 1 January 2028. Anyone relying on an exemption today should keep that review in view.

What to do now

2030 sounds distant but is not: sourcing recyclate, qualifying the material, adapting tools and sign-offs all need lead time, and the market for food-grade PCR is tight. Three steps pay off early:

• Record the current state per pack, separated into PCR and PIR. Many supplier figures do not distinguish them.
• Calculate the gap to the quota, per category and per manufacturing plant.
• Set up the evidence that will substantiate the quota later. flustix RECYCLED declares the share and the recyclate type, on the basis of DIN EN 15343 and DIN EN ISO 22095.

There is a commercial argument on top: in Spain and France a substantiated recycled content feeds directly into the plastic tax.