PPWR in e-commerce has been in force since 12 August 2026.
Regulation 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council entered into force on 11 February 2025, while most of its provisions began to apply on 12 August 2026. The regulation replaces the existing Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and is straight applicable in the associate States.
For e-shop owners, it is crucial that PPWR is not limited to environmental issues. The regulation affects the plan and usage of packaging, documentation and organisation of logistics processes. According to the guidelines of the European Commission, as of 12 August 2026, there is, among another things, a general request that packaging placed on the marketplace must be recyclable. circumstantial plan criteria for recycling will be applied later.
Changes are peculiarly crucial for companies selling on respective EU markets. PPWR itself harmonises any of the rules, but entrepreneurs inactive request to take into account national systems of extended maker work and local requirements for registration and settlement of packaging. A good example is the German market. The Central registry of Packages of the ZSVR indicates that producers within the meaning of the fresh regulations must registry in the LUCID system. As of 12 August 2026, companies should besides check whether the change of rules requires the update of existing data.
High penalties may be imposed for infringements
Cross-border sales so require the e-shop to check its obligations on all marketplace on which its goods enter. The PPWR does not establish a single EU-wide punishment rate for each infringement. Penalties shall be determined and enforced at associate State level.
The hazard scale can be significant. The German ZSVR informs that a breach of the registration work may consequence in a punishment of up to EUR 100 000 and a deficiency of the required participation in the strategy of up to EUR 200 000. A punishment of up to €10 000 is provided for breach of reporting obligations. It is besides possible to prohibit the distribution of packaging or packaged products. For the Polish e-shop, this means that expansion to the EU marketplace should not only cover the analysis of taxes, payments or transportation costs. Packaging compliance becomes another component to be taken into account erstwhile calculating the profitability of abroad sales.
The empty space limit will change online order packaging
One of the most crucial changes for e-commerce logistics will be to reduce empty space in shipments. However, this does not mean that the 50% limit has been in force since August 2026. According to Article 24 PPWR, the maximum empty space coefficient in bulk, transport and e-commerce packages is to be 50%. The provisions are to apply from 1 January 2030 or 3 years after the entry into force of the applicable implementing acts, if that deadline is later. The European Commission is to adopt a methodology for calculating the coefficient by 12 February 2028.
This is crucial for shops utilizing respective standard sizes of cardboard. erstwhile calculating empty space, spaces filled with bubble foil, airbags, paper clippings, foam or Styrofoam chips will besides be treated as free space. E-shops so inactive have time to adapt processes, but more packaging formats, automation of packaging or systems that choice cardboard for order can gradually gain in importance.
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FAQ. PPWR for online store
- Since erstwhile does PPWR apply to e-commerce?
The PPWR Regulation entered into force on 11 February 2025 and its essential provisions have been applied since 12 August 2026. However, not all requirements begin to apply simultaneously. The Regulation provides for a number of deadlines for subsequent years. - Is the limit of 50% of empty space in the package already valid?
Nope. For packaging, transport and e-commerce, the limit is expected to be 50%, but will apply from 1 January 2030 or 3 years after the entry into force of the applicable implementing acts, whichever is the later. - Will the filler reduce the empty space in the package?
Not in the sense of fresh regulations. PPWR indicates that the space occupied, among another things, by airbags, bubble foil, paper clippings, foam or Styrofoam chips will be treated as empty space. - What should an e-shop selling abroad do?
The trader should establish its function as a consequence of PPWR and check packaging obligations on the various sales markets. For Germany, the LUCID strategy remains an crucial element. It is besides worth verifying the documentation received from packaging suppliers and preparing logistics processes for subsequent stages of PPWR implementation.
