The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
The PPWR is the new European regulation on packaging and packaging waste.
The aim of this regulation is to reduce the amount of waste, encourage recycling and reuse, and hold producers in all Member States accountable.
From 12 August 2026, this regulation will radically change the rules of the game in Europe.
To know what your responsibilities and obligations are, you must first determine your role in the packaging value chain.
Do you manufacture, sell or import packaging or packaged products on the Belgian market? Then you are affected by extended producer responsibility.
Who is a producer according to the PPWR?
Being a producer means:
- Contributing financially to the end-of-life management of the packaging you place on the market,
- Achieving and demonstrating each year the recycling percentages imposed for packaging that becomes waste for your Belgian customers,
- Joining an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisation,
- Reporting to this organisation the tonnages of packaging placed on the Belgian market.
Why use Valipac? With Valipac, you can fulfil all your obligations in the most efficient, affordable and hassle-free way possible.
- We take care of all your legal obligations regarding commercial packaging
- We ensure that the recycling targets set are met and documented for your company
- We report on behalf of all our customers to the relevant authorities
In which cases are you a producer in Belgium?
- You are located in Belgium and sell service or transport packaging in its final empty form to a company located in Belgium.
- You are located outside Belgium and sell packaged goods directly to an end user located in Belgium.
- You are located in Belgium and package goods in sales and groupage packaging and sell them to a company located in Belgium.
- You are located in Belgium and import packaged goods for redistribution to Belgian companies.
Conformity of packaging
Packaging placed on the European market must comply with the requirements of the PPWR. Some obligations will come into force directly on 12 August 2026, while others will be phased in gradually.
Below is an overview of the different roles and responsibilities in the value chain.
SUPPLIER
- Supplies packaging or packaging materials to a manufacturer.
- Provides technical documentation to the manufacturer.
MANUFACTURER
- Manufactures packaging or packaged products under its own name.
- Carries out the conformity assessment.
- Draws up the declaration of conformity.
- Keeps the technical documentation.
- Applies the necessary identification.
IMPORTER
- Imports packaging or packaged products from a third country.
- Ensures that the declaration of conformity and technical documentation are available.
- Keeps the documents.
- Checks the manufacturer’s identification.
DISTRIBUTOR
- Imports packaging or packaged products from another Member State.
- Ensures that the declaration of conformity and technical documentation are available.
- Keeps the documents.
- Checks the manufacturer’s identification.
How to draw up a declaration of conformity?
From 12 August 2026, all packaging placed on the European market must undergo a conformity assessment.
This declaration must be based on the technical documentation provided by the manufacturer of the packaging or packaging material. It must be based on the model in Annex VIII of the PPWR.
What must a declaration of conformity contain?
The declaration must prove that the packaging meets all applicable PPWR requirements (Articles 5 to 12 of the PPWR) and contain at least the following information:
- A unique identification number for the declaration
- The identification of the packaging (e.g. type, batch number or serial number)
- A description of the packaging unit (type of packaging, dimensions, materials, layers, main components)
- The manufacturer’s contact details
- A description and identification of the packaging to enable its traceability
- The following sentence: “This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer.
- A declaration certifying that the packaging complies with the PPWR.
- References to harmonised standards, common specifications or internal specifications used to demonstrate compliance (e.g. recyclability assessment methods, minimisation methods).
- The place and date of issue.
- The name, position and signature of the signatory.
Learn more about the obligations of the PPWR
The obligations of the PPWR go far beyond extended producer responsibility and packaging compliance.
Discover all the objectives of this legislation in our brochure.
To our PPWR brochure