Transport Packaging and the PPWR: What the Packaging Regulation Means for Cartons, Stretch Film and Pallets

The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) affects transport packaging in several places: empty space is limited to 50 % from 2030 at the earliest, weight and volume must be reduced to what is necessary, and reuse quotas apply to pallets, plastic boxes, pallet wrap and strapping. Plastic films also face minimum shares of recycled content, while the labelling obligation for transport packaging mostly does not apply. This guide maps the individual articles of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 to typical industrial packaging.

Minimizing weight and volume (Art. 10)

Since 12 August 2026, packaging designed only to increase the perceived volume may no longer be placed on the market, for example packaging with double walls, false bottoms or unnecessary layers (Art. 10(2), with exceptions). For transport packaging this matters less than for sales packaging, but it should be kept in mind for multi-carton packs and intermediate layers.

More important is Art. 10(1): by 1 January 2030, manufacturers and importers must ensure that the weight and volume of the packaging are reduced to the minimum needed for it to function. For transport packaging, this means that protecting the goods remains the aim, but every grade of corrugated board, every film thickness and every layer of edge protection should be justifiable.

Maximum 50 % empty space (Art. 24)

Economic operators who fill grouped, transport or e-commerce packaging must keep to an empty-space ratio of no more than 50 %. The obligation applies from 1 January 2030 or three years after the implementing acts, whichever is later.

The Commission is to set the calculation method by 12 February 2028. Among other things, it is meant to take into account irregularly shaped products and packaging that is necessary to protect the product. One point is already clear: filling material counts as empty space. Filling gaps in the carton with air cushions or paper does not solve the problem.

Reuse quotas for transport packaging (Art. 29)

Art. 29 is particularly relevant for logistics. From 1 January 2030, economic operators who use transport packaging, or sales packaging used for transport, within the EU must use at least 40 % of it as reusable packaging in a reuse system. This covers:

• pallets, foldable plastic boxes, boxes, trays and plastic crates
• intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), pails, drums and jerricans
• flexible formats as well as pallet wrap and strapping

From 1 January 2040, economic operators are to aim for 70 %. The rule is stricter for in-house transport: between a company’s own sites or between linked or partner enterprises, and for deliveries to another economic operator in the same Member State, this packaging must be reusable (100 %).

Exempt are, among others, transport packaging in the form of cardboard boxes (Art. 29(4)(d)), packaging for the transport of dangerous goods and made-to-measure packaging for large machinery, equipment and goods. The reuse quotas therefore do not apply to the classic shipping carton, but they do apply to pallets, plastic boxes, pallet wrap and strapping. For suppliers outside the EU: the quotas concern the operators who use the packaging within the EU. How this affects your deliveries depends on roles and contracts and should be clarified with the customer. More on this in the guide PPWR for suppliers outside the EU.

Recycled content in plastic films (Art. 7)

Plastic parts of packaging must contain a minimum share of post-consumer recycled content, calculated as an average per production plant and year. The obligation applies from 1 January 2030 or three years after the implementing act, whichever is later.

Plastic packaging	from 2030 (earliest)	from 2040
Contact-sensitive, mainly PET (excluding single-use beverage bottles)	30 %	50 %
Contact-sensitive, other plastics	10 %	25 %
Single-use plastic beverage bottles	30 %	65 %
Other plastic packaging	35 %	65 %

Stretch film for pallets that is not contact-sensitive generally falls under “other plastic packaging”. Exemptions exist for, among others, compostable plastic packaging, packaging for dangerous goods and plastic parts that make up less than 5 % of the packaging’s total weight.

Labelling: exemption for transport packaging (Art. 12)

The harmonized labelling of material composition becomes mandatory from 12 August 2028 or 24 months after the implementing acts, whichever is later. This obligation does not apply to transport packaging, with the exception of e-commerce packaging. Anyone sending shipping cartons to end customers should therefore check carefully which category the packaging falls into.

What this means for cartons, stretch film and pallets

Cartons

Carton formats should fit the product. Oversized cartons with a lot of filling material become a risk with a view to Art. 24. Review your format range, the grade of corrugated board and recyclability under Art. 6, which must reach at least class C from 2030 at the earliest and class A or B from 2038.

Stretch film and strapping

For film, two questions matter: how thin can it be without endangering load securing, and what recycled-content share can the supplier demonstrate? At the same time, Art. 29 expressly names pallet wrap and strapping in the reuse quotas. Whether and how this can be implemented in a given case should be discussed early with customers and suppliers. Our supplier network helps find suitable material alternatives.

Pallets and load units

In many supply chains pallets are already exchanged or returned. From 2030, the PPWR requires a reuse system with fixed quotas for them. Check how pallets, boxes and crates flow back today and where single-use pallets can be replaced by reusable solutions. This is also a matter of process and logistics optimization.

Review your transport packaging now

Most obligations for transport packaging take effect in 2030, but format changes, material changes and reuse systems take time. Our packaging optimization combines product protection, material use and the requirements of the PPWR. If you want to know where your packaging stands today, request an initial assessment.