What It Really Means for the Code on Your Box
The PPWR is the EU’s new packaging law. It applies from 12 August 2026 and covers all packaging placed on the EU market. It does not ban mineral oil inks or tell you which ink to use, but it does change how packaging is judged, and the code on your box is part of the pack.
If you make or fill packaging that goes anywhere near the EU, you have probably heard six different versions of what it means. We’ve read the source so you don’t have to. This guide sticks to what the regulation says, what it doesn’t say, and where coding and marking fit in. A clear picture is the best way to avoid surprises.
What is the PPWR, in five lines?
- It is Regulation (EU) 2025/40, and it replaces the old Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive.
- It applies from 12 August 2026.
- It covers all packaging and packaging waste, with lighter rules for micro-enterprises.
- Its aims are less waste, more recyclable packaging, clearer labelling and one set of rules across the EU.
- It is a regulation, not a directive, so it applies directly in every member state.
What will the PPWR change?
The European Commission sums up the goals as packaging that is:
- Less wasteful. Plastic packaging will need recycled content, with rising targets for 2030 and 2040.
- More recyclable. All packaging must be recyclable by 2030.
- Clearly labelled. People should be able to see what packaging is made of and where it goes, with fewer confusing labels.
- Common-sense. Less empty space and fewer unnecessary layers.
- Fairer and safer. Brands using non-recyclable or harmful materials pay more of the clean-up, and PFAS are restricted in food-contact packaging.
What are the key dates?
- 12 August 2026 - The Regulation applies
- August 2028 - Harmonised labelling requirements begin to apply
- 2030 - All packaging must be recyclable; first recycled-content targets for plastic
- 2040 - Higher recycled-content targets for plastic
Some later dates depend on implementing acts that are still to be published.
What does the PPWR not do?
This is the part most articles skip.
- It does not name or ban mineral oil inks.
- It does not tell you which ink to use.
- It does not make your current packaging illegal overnight.
What it does ask is that substances of concern are kept to a minimum in packaging and in every part of it, inks included. So why does ink come into it?
Where does coding and marking come in?
The PPWR is about packaging that can be recycled well and understood clearly. Ink isn’t the headline, but it sits inside that goal for three reasons.
- Recyclability is judged on the whole pack. Not just the board or film. What is printed on it is part of the picture.
- Recycled fibre is under the microscope. Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH and MOAH) are a recognised concern for migration into food. An opinion from ANSES, France’s food safety agency, was the basis for France’s national rules.
- Customers move before regulators do. Retailers and brand owners often write tighter specifications than the law requires, and put them into supplier requirements first.
That is why we see ink as a sensible, low-cost step. It is the one part of the pack you can change in a cartridge, without touching a machine.
What about national rules, such as France’s?
The PPWR aims to replace different national rules with one EU standard. But some countries already have their own rules on mineral oils in inks.
France is the best-known example. Since 1 January 2025, its limits on mineral oils in packaging inks have been tighter. How national rules sit alongside the PPWR over time is still an open question, and we are watching it closely.
Does the PPWR apply to UK businesses?
Yes, if you place packaging on the EU market. The PPWR applies to packaging sold into the EU, so UK exporters are in scope when they sell there.
At home, the UK runs its own packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, which is separate.
Five questions to ask your team
- Which of our products ship into the EU, and which into France?
- Do we know what is in the ink on our cases and cartons?
- Has any customer or retailer sent updated packaging requirements this year?
- Who in the business owns packaging compliance, and is it written down?
- If a customer asked tomorrow for a statement on our coding ink, how quickly could we provide it?
If you can answer all five confidently, you are ahead of most. If not, you are in good company, and this is a good moment to start.
Frequently asked questions
Does the PPWR ban mineral oil inks?
No. It does not name or ban them, although it does ask for substances of concern to be kept to a minimum. Some national rules, such as France’s, do restrict mineral oils in packaging inks.
Does the PPWR apply to UK companies?
Yes, if you place packaging on the EU market.
Do I need to change my ink now?
No. Your current ink is supported and still available. Our eco-friendly, vegetable-oil ink is there for when you or your customers want it.
Will my coding printer need replacing?
No. Our vegetable-oil ink is suitable for every Foenix printer running oil-based ink.
Ready to talk it through?
Foenix Coding won Sustainable Initiative of the Year at the Automate UK Awards 2025.
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