The European Packaging Regulation (PPWR) – What Really Changes for Businesses Compared to the Packaging Act
With the PPWR, companies are facing one of the most far-reaching regulatory changes in the packaging sector since the introduction of the Packaging Act. Whereas the focus has primarily been on registration and disposal up to now, the emphasis will shift in the future to packaging design, the materials used, and reliable data covering the entire life cycle.
For your company, this means that packaging compliance is becoming more strategic, more complex—and much more closely tied to day-to-day operations. By addressing these new requirements early on, you can not only minimize risks but also make lasting improvements to your processes.
From National Legislation to European Systemic Change
In recent years, many companies in Germany have been closely engaged with the Packaging Act (VerpackG). Registration in the LUCID registry, participation in dual systems, and regular volume reporting are now part of their established daily operations.
However, the European Packaging Regulation (PPWR) marks the beginning of a new phase. While the Packaging Act (VerpackG) primarily regulates the placing on the market and disposal of packaging, the PPWR goes much further: it has a profound impact on product design, material selection, and internal processes. For you, this represents a true paradigm shift. It is no longer just a matter of properly licensing packaging—but of designing it to be compliant from the ground up and managing it based on data.
VerpackG vs. PPWR
The German Packaging Act will remain in effect for the time being, but the PPWR will supersede and supplement significant parts of it. The most important difference lies in the structure:
The VerpackG is a national law based on an EU directive. The PPWR, on the other hand, is an EU regulation that applies directly in all member states—without any leeway for national implementation. This means that special national provisions take a back seat, and you must adapt to uniform EU-wide requirements. The focus is also shifting significantly in terms of content.
VerpackG – Today’s Focus
: Focus on Registration, Licensing, and Disposal
PPWR – Future Focus
: Emphasis on Design, Materials, and Lifecycle
The PPWR thus imposes significantly stricter and more comprehensive obligations than the VerpackG.
What specific changes will take effect when the PPWR begins?
With the phased implementation of the PPWR starting in 2026, the regulatory framework will change for you in several key areas.
From Waste Disposal to the Obligation to Design
While the Packaging Act primarily addresses the end of the product lifecycle, the PPWR starts at the very beginning. In the future, packaging must be designed to be recyclable—a requirement that applies to all packaging by 2030 at the latest. For you, this means that design decisions become compliance decisions.
Mandatory recycling and recycled content requirements
The PPWR introduces minimum requirements for the use of recycled materials, particularly in plastic packaging. This means that you must not only use recyclable packaging, but also be able to demonstrate the actual percentage of recycled content—in a reliable, verifiable, and reproducible manner.
Stricter rules against excessive packaging
A key example is the restriction of empty space in packaging, particularly in e-commerce. This has a direct impact on your shipping processes: box sizes, packing materials, and packaging strategies in warehousing and logistics are coming under increased regulatory scrutiny.
Reusable containers are becoming mandatory, not optional
The PPWR significantly strengthens reusable packaging systems and sets specific usage targets for certain types of packaging. For you, this means taking a critical look at existing packaging concepts: Are single-use solutions still acceptable in the long term—or do alternatives need to be developed?
Enhanced labeling and transparency
Standardized labeling, such as digital labels or QR codes, is intended to make disposal easier for consumers and promote transparency. This creates new requirements for you in terms of product data, master data management, and coordination between product management, IT, and logistics.
EU-wide registration and reporting
While the Packaging Act focuses on national structures, the PPWR takes a consistently European approach. If you place packaging on the market across borders—for example, through e-commerce or international distribution networks—you will need to deal with multiple national registries, reporting formats, and control mechanisms in the future.
In practical terms, this means for you:
- Registration requirements may vary depending on the destination country
- Quantities, material types, and packaging types must be reported on a country-by-country basis
- Reporting deadlines and data formats vary and must be strictly adhered to
Furthermore, the PPWR raises the bar for data consistency across national borders. Discrepancies between national reports or incomplete information will be identified and penalized more quickly in the future. This significantly increases the organizational burden, particularly for companies operating internationally. Manual reporting, Excel spreadsheets, or isolated national solutions quickly reach their limits in this context.
PPWR-ready with Lizentro
With our app lizentro you can integrate packaging compliance directly into Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Automatically identify, manage, and report your packaging data—in compliance with legal requirements, auditable, and scalable for both national and international standards.
Talk to us about how lizentro can provide you with concrete support in meeting today’s requirements of the VerpackG and future PPWR regulations.
Common challenges in practice
For you, the biggest change lies not so much in individual regulations as in their combined effect. Many companies that currently comply with the VerpackG are finding that their existing processes are no longer sufficient for the PPWR. A key problem is often the lack of transparency regarding packaging data. While aggregated volume reports are often sufficient for the VerpackG, the PPWR requires significantly more detailed information—such as material composition, recyclability, or recycled content. At the same time, responsibility is shifting within your company: whereas the focus used to lie primarily with the compliance department or external service providers, product development, procurement, and logistics will now be directly involved.
A real-world example: You use different packaging variants for a product—depending on the supplier or location. Under the VerpackG, this is often not an issue. Under the PPWR, each variant must be individually assessed, documented, and, if necessary, adjusted.
Collaboration with suppliers is also becoming more challenging. You rely on receiving valid and comparable data—often across national borders.
Why ERP Systems Are Becoming Essential Now
The PPWR makes it clear that packaging compliance is virtually impossible to manage without a clean, integrated database. ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central play a central role in this because they address the requirements exactly where they arise:
- in the product master
- in bills of materials
- in purchasing and supplier processes
- in logistics and shipping operations
The key difference from the current situation lies in the level of detail required. This necessitates structured information such as:
- Types and proportions of materials
- Weights at the component level
- Recyclability according to defined criteria
- Reusable or disposable classifications
This data must not only be available, but also used consistently throughout your processes. An ERP system can serve as a central management tool—provided the relevant structures are properly set up.
Our conclusion: more than just stricter measures—a systemic change
For many companies, the German Packaging Act marked the beginning of a structured approach to packaging compliance. The PPWR now takes a decisive step further. It does not simply replace existing regulations, but expands them into a holistic approach that spans the entire life cycle of packaging.
For you, this means:
- greater responsibility in product design
- higher standards for data and transparency
- greater integration with your existing processes
The real challenge here lies not in individual provisions, but in their practical implementation in day-to-day operations. Companies that start early to systematically collect their packaging data and integrate it into their systems lay the groundwork for managing this complexity. As a result, the PPWR becomes not only a regulatory requirement but also a driver for better data quality, clearer processes, and greater long-term efficiency.
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About the author
Philipp Respondek · Trainee Functional Consultant
As part of my trainee program to become a Functional Consultant, I am participating in the Microsoft Upskill program and am a member of the #BCTalent community.
I have a degree in business administration and gained my first experience in product management while studying. Currently, I am primarily responsible for managing the lizentro app and am also gaining additional hands-on experience through various client projects.
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