From 12 August 2026, the new EU Packaging Regulation ("Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation", PPWR) will establish binding requirements for packaging and define obligations for economic operators who put packaging into circulation – manufacturers, importers, and (online) retailers alike.

The German Packaging Act is expected to be adapted to the PPWR by August; a corresponding cabinet draft from the Federal Ministry for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BMUKN) proposes changes for the "extended producer responsibility" regulated in the Packaging Act.

Prepare as early as possible

As the implementation of the PPWR requires close coordination with packaging suppliers, it is highly advisable for affected companies to familiarize themselves with the regulation promptly.

The company network Climate Protection, based at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Service GmbH and supported by the BMUKN, offers assistance: Together with the IHK, a free three-part webinar series is organized, in which a specialised lawyer presents the key information:

• On 5 March, participants will first receive a general introduction to the scope and content of the EU Packaging Regulation: EU Packaging Regulation: Fundamentals & Update
   
• On 12 March, specific measures will be presented that economic operators must take in their respective roles to implement the EU Packaging Regulation: Implementation & Practical Examples
   
• On 19 March, the focus will be on "extended producer responsibility for packaging waste," the so-called "EPR responsibility," and the expected changes to the German Packaging Act: Extended Producer Responsibility