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Packaging rule · European Union · Reuse target

PPWR: 2030 reuse targets for transport and grouped packaging

Reuse target rule covering all packaging in the European Union, set by European Parliament and Council of the EU. Adopted; applies from 1 January 2030.

By the SPI teamRule ID PR-EU-006Source consulted 14 October 2026Verified 14 October 2026
Sourced facts

The rule

Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.

Jurisdiction
European Union
Authority
European Parliament and Council of the EU
Rule type
Reuse target
Materials
All packaging
Status
Adopted, not yet applying Enacted
Rate or target
40%40% for transport packaging and sales packaging used for transport; 10% for grouped packaging.
Adopted or published
19 December 2024
Applies from
1 January 2030
From the source

“From 1 January 2030, economic operators that use transport packaging, or sales packaging used for transporting products,”

Official source EUR-Lex: Commission Notice C/2026/3084, Guidance document for Regulation (EU) 2025/40Official (government or regulator) · published 10 June 2026 · consulted 14 October 2026

Deadlines

Key dates

  1. Adopted or published 1 year and 9 months ago

  2. Source published 4 months ago

  3. Source consulted by the SPI team today

  4. Re-checked by a second SPI team member today

  5. Today

  6. Applies from in 3 years and 2 months

SPI analysis

What it means

SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

SPI summary

From 1 January 2030, at least 40% of transport packaging, including sales packaging used for transporting products, and 10% of grouped packaging used by an economic operator must be reusable within a re-use system, with indicative 2040 targets.

In practice

From 2030 the PPWR sets binding reuse targets: 40% for transport and sales packaging used for transport and 10% for grouped packaging, with indicative 2040 targets and separate targets for beverages and take-away. This mainly touches users of pallets, crates, boxes and wraps in logistics, and fillers and distributors of drinks. Converters supplying single-use transport and grouped packaging face lower demand where customers switch to reusable systems.

Where the record is unclear

  • The Commission timeline lists calculation rules for reuse targets by 30 June 2027 (Article 30(4)) and guidelines on beverages under the targets by 12 February 2027 (Article 29(8)); neither had a stated status on the opened pages.
  • The EUR-Lex summary describes the 40% target as for transport packaging, while the Legislative Observatory and the tracker say transport and sales packaging. The exact scope is in Article 29, which SPI has not yet checked for this note.
  • Percentages for the beverage targets are not given on the Legislative Observatory page.

Where it sits in the tracker

  • One of 18 packaging rules we track in the European Union, of which 1 are reuse target rules.
  • In all, 3 reuse target rules are tracked across 3 jurisdictions. Compare them below

Company profiles that map to this rule

Companies whose SPI profile lists this rule in its regulatory exposure, based on where they report selling. Not company-reported.

SPI analysis

Overview

Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 puts re-use targets on economic operators rather than on Member States. From 1 January 2030, an operator using transport packaging, or sales packaging used for transporting products, must ensure that at least 40% of it is reusable packaging within a re-use system, and should endeavour to reach 70% from 20401. Grouped packaging has a 10% target for 2030 and an aspirational 25% for 20403, and final distributors of beverages face a 10% target from 2030 under Article 29(6)1.

Recital 91 ties the targets to waste prevention, and recital 94 places them on economic operators, with final distributors carrying the beverage targets. Recital 95 explains a stricter rule for some flows: reusable pallets, crates, intermediate bulk containers and drums for transport between an operator's own sites, between linked enterprises or within one Member State, with cardboard boxes exempt4.

The counting rules are still to come: guidelines on the beverages covered are due by 12 February 2027 under Article 29(8), and calculation rules by 30 June 2027 under Article 30(4)5. DG ENV lists a delegated decision exempting certain operators that use pallet wrappings and straps6.

Duties

Who must do what

Manufacturer, importer or distributor using transport packaging

  • From 1 January 2030, ensure at least 40% of transport packaging, including sales packaging with an evident transport function, is reusable within a re-use system (Article 29(1))1.
  • Document any reliance on Article 29(4)(b) for transport packaging custom designed to the ordering operator's needs, such as for large machinery, equipment or commodities1.

Importer

  • Count imported transport packaging from the first warehouse in the Union; a consignment for a single final destination need not be unpacked and repacked, but distribution centres and logistics hubs are not final destinations1.

Final distributor of beverages and large retailer

  • Offer at least 10% of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in reusable sales packaging from 2030 under Article 29(6); making available means offering, not completing a sale1.
  • Leave business-to-business beer kegs out of the count, while smaller reusable bottles sold to consumers do count1.
  • As a large retailer, endeavour to devote 10% of sales area to refill stations from 20303.

Member States

  • Grant five-year exemptions under Article 29(14) only if recycling targets are exceeded by 5 percentage points, per capita packaging waste falls at least 3% by 2028 against 2018, and the operator has a waste prevention and recycling plan1.
Scope

Are you in scope?

Work through each question. The answers are the SPI team's reading of the sources cited.

  1. Do you use transport packaging, or sales packaging with an evident transport function, inside the Union?

    If yes
    The 40% target applies from 1 January 20301.
    If no
    Sales packaging without a transport function falls outside Article 29(1)1.

  2. Is the packaging custom designed for the ordering operator's large machinery, equipment or commodities?

    If yes
    Article 29(4)(b) exempts it, if documented1.
    If no
    It counts toward the 40%.

  3. Does the consignment go to one final destination?

    If yes
    It need not be repacked into reusable packaging1.
    If no
    Distribution centres and hubs are not final destinations, so onward flows count1.

  4. Is the drink milk, wine, aromatised wine or spirits?

    If yes
    It is excluded from the beverage targets2.
    If no
    The 10% beverage target applies to the final distributor1.

  5. Are you a micro-enterprise or a small beverage distributor?

    If yes
    The EUR-Lex summary lists exemptions for these groups3.
    If no
    No size exemption applies.
Checklist

Compliance checklist

  1. Map transport packaging flows

    By Now

    SPI analysis of the official text. Not legal advice; confirm with the text or counsel. Split pallets, crates, boxes, wraps and drums by route (own sites, within one Member State, within the Union, imports), because recital 95 and the Article 29(1) target treat these flows differently14.

    Evidence to keep Flow map with units per year and per route.

  2. Test sales packaging for a transport function

    By Before 2030

    Use the Commission's examples: re-use is feasible for cereal drums, bulk bags and fruit crates, while paint buckets may be disproportionately costly1.

    Evidence to keep Assessment per format with reasons.

  3. Record exemptions

    By Now

    Document custom-designed packaging under Article 29(4)(b) and check whether the pallet wrapping and strap decision covers your operations16.

    Evidence to keep Technical documentation entries.

  4. Join or build a re-use system

    By 1 January 2030

    Recital 86 requires users of reusable packaging to ensure a re-use system, open or closed loop, and recital 87 requires reconditioning before each reuse4.

    Evidence to keep Pool contracts and reconditioning records.

  5. Prepare beverage offers

    By 1 January 2030

    Final distributors plan a range in which at least 10% of beverages are offered in reusable packaging, following the Article 29(8) guidelines due 12 February 202715.

    Evidence to keep Range lists showing the reusable share.

  6. Align data with the calculation rules

    By 30 June 2027

    Recital 98 bases the calculation on the quantity made available, by sales units or by weight or volume; match data systems to the Article 30(4) act45.

    Evidence to keep Yearly unit, weight and volume records.

Enforcement

Enforcement and penalties

Who enforces
National competent and market surveillance authorities in each Member State (recital 112)4
Powers
Under recital 112 the 2019/1020 market surveillance framework covers packaging; target compliance will be judged on the operator's yearly figures under the Article 30(4) calculation rules45.
Enforcement so far
None: the targets start on 1 January 2030.

Penalties

BreachPenaltyLegal basis
Missing a mandatory re-use targetNational, varies by Member StateMember State penalty regimes for re-use target shortfalls; the EU sources cited give no figure

The Commission places responsibility on the user of the transport packaging, meaning the manufacturer, importer or distributor that places the product on the market1. Because amounts are national, an operator with flows in several Member States faces several penalty regimes for the same shortfall.

Connections

How it fits with other rules

  • PPWR: maximum 50% empty space in grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging PR-EU-009
    The 50% empty space limit for grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging takes effect on 1 January 2030, or three years after its implementing acts if that is later1. Switching a flow to reusable crates changes the empty space result for the same goods, so both tests should run on one set of design data.
  • PPWR: restrictions on certain single-use packaging formats PR-EU-008
    Article 25(1) restricts the Annex V formats from 1 January 2030, and composite packaging with 5% or more plastic falls within the bans1. Operators replacing single-use plastic grouped films can count a reusable alternative toward the 10% grouped target.
  • Spain Royal Decree 1055/2022: packaging EPR and reuse targets PR-ES-002
    The Commission lists Article 29 among the provisions that leave room for national measures1. Spain's existing re-use targets for commercial and industrial packaging are an example of a national layer above the EU minimum.
Timeline

History of the rule

  1. Commission proposal COM(2022) 677 with re-use targets7.

  2. Parliament first-reading position adopted7.

  3. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 published7.

  4. Delegated act on pallet wrappings and straps adopted5.

  5. Commission guidance clarifies sales packaging with a transport function, international trade and beverage targets1.

  6. Today

  7. Guidelines on beverages under Article 29(8) due5.

  8. Calculation rules under Article 30(4) due5.

  9. Mandatory targets apply: 40% transport, 10% grouped, 10% beverages13.

  10. Aspirational levels: 70% transport and 25% grouped3.

Questions

Questions

Does the 40% target cover sales packaging?

Only sales packaging used for transporting products, with an evident transport function, counts under Article 29(1). The Commission's June 2026 guidance names cereal drums, bulk bags and fruit crates as cases where re-use is feasible, and paint buckets as one where it may be disproportionately costly1.

Who must meet the transport packaging target?

The user of the transport packaging, meaning the manufacturer, importer or distributor placing the product on the market. From 1 January 2030 at least 40% of that packaging must be reusable within a re-use system, with an aspiration of 70% from 20401.

Do imports count toward the re-use target?

Yes, but only within the Union: for imports the target runs from the first EU warehouse. A consignment for one final destination need not be repacked, while distribution centres and logistics hubs do not count as final destinations1.

Which drinks are outside the beverage re-use target?

Milk, wine, aromatised wine and spirits are excluded2. For other drinks, final distributors must offer at least 10% in reusable packaging from 2030, and business-to-business beer kegs do not count toward it1.

Can a Member State exempt operators from the targets?

Yes, for five years under Article 29(14), if it exceeds the recycling targets by 5 percentage points, cuts per capita packaging waste by at least 3% by 2028 against 2018, and the operator has a waste prevention and recycling plan. Renewal depends on meeting the 2035 and 2040 waste prevention targets1.

Glossary

Definitions

Making available on the market
Defined in EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) applies PR-EU-001
Sources

Sources for this analysis

  1. EUR-Lex: Commission Notice C/2026/3084, Guidance document for Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (OJ C, 10.6.2026) Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  2. European Parliament Legislative Observatory: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 summary Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  3. EUR-Lex: Summaries of EU legislation, Packaging and packaging waste (from 2026) Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  4. EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2025/40, OJ L 22.1.2025 Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  5. European Commission Green Forum: PPWR implementation timeline of implementing and delegated acts Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  6. European Commission (DG ENV): Packaging waste Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  7. European Parliament Legislative Observatory: procedure file 2022/0396(COD) Official · Consulted 14 October 2026

Written by the SPI team on 14 October 2026. Sources checked as of 14 October 2026. SPI analysis, not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

Audit trail

Change history

Verified: a second SPI team member re-checked every fact above against the source on 14 October 2026. Any later change to the facts sends the rule back to Sourced and is logged here.

  1. Verified by a second SPI team member

  2. Changed: title, SPI summary, rate note, source, source link, source date, quote

  3. Verified by a second SPI team member

  4. Added to the tracker

Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-EU-006 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.

Other jurisdictions

Reuse target rules elsewhere

The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.

RuleWhereTypeMaterialsStatusApplies from
Spain Royal Decree 1055/2022: packaging EPR and reuse targetsPR-ES-002SpainReuse targetAll packagingIn force29 December 2022
Reuse targets for rigid plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026)PR-IN-003IndiaReuse targetPlasticIn force31 March 2026

Every reuse target rule in the tracker

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