PPWR in Practice: How WBG Pooling Helps Companies Prepare for the New Reuse and Packaging Requirements
The previous two editions explored what the PPWR means for reusable transport packaging and how these requirements can be implemented in practice. As the year draws to a close, it is worth looking at another important aspect of the regulation that will have a direct impact on businesses: the material-related requirements for packaging. While part of these requirements has already been in force since August 2026, additional obligations will become mandatory in 2030, making early preparation a smart strategic step.
Since 12 August 2026, stricter limits have applied to substances of concern in packaging that comes into contact with food. For PFAS, the maximum permitted level is 25 micrograms per kilogram for an individual substance and 250 micrograms per kilogram for the total concentration of PFAS. In addition, a threshold of 50 milligrams per kilogram applies to total fluorine content, above which proof of the fluorine’s origin must be provided. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium are also subject to a combined maximum limit of 100 milligrams per kilogram.
Another key requirement is recyclability: From 2030 onwards, nearly all packaging will need to be recyclable in an economically viable manner. This development favors mono-material solutions and makes complex multi-material composites increasingly unattractive. As a result, packaging design strategies should already start shifting in this direction today.
For reusable transport packaging within a pooling system, however, this issue is fundamentally different from single-use packaging. A load carrier that remains in circulation for many years or even decades generates only a fraction of the annual material throughput of a disposable alternative. Moreover, when a load carrier reaches the end of its service life and can no longer be repaired, WBG Pooling already applies a Cradle-to-Cradle® process that transforms it into a new, equivalent load carrier. This approach is fully aligned with the direction of the recyclability requirements that will become mandatory in 2030.
For customer companies, this means one important advantage: the obligation to demonstrate the recyclability of individual packaging units lies with the pooling provider, not with you.
As the year comes to a close, we would like to thank all our readers for their interest in our PPWR series throughout the past year. 2027 will be a pivotal year for the implementation of the regulation, and we will continue to provide updates and practical insights. We also look forward to meeting many of you in person at our stand at Fruit Logistica 2027 in Berlin this coming February.
Until then, we wish you a peaceful holiday season and a successful start to the New Year.
