[Global Market Note] One Week Until EU Packaging Rules: Eco-Friendly Packaging Now Mandatory for Electronics and Appliances

PPWR Takes Effect on the 12th

Technical Documentation Required for EU Transactions

D-Grade or Lower Packaging to Be Banned from 2030

Empty Space Inside Packaging Must Not Exceed 50%

The European Union's "Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation" (PPWR) will be fully implemented starting from August 12, 2026. As a result, companies must overhaul their packaging processes by replacing plastic cushioning materials with paper and reducing redundant packaging.

The PPWR applies to all types of packaging used in industrial, commercial, and household settings, regardless of the material or origin. The core elements include restricting excessive packaging, increasing the use of reusable packaging, and requiring companies to indicate the proportion of recycled materials in their packaging.

Korean companies exporting to Europe must first prepare a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and Technical Documentation (TD). The DoC is a document whereby the company itself certifies that the packaging meets PPWR standards. The TD is similar to a quality portfolio for export packaging and must include packaging blueprints, component specifications, and test reports. Manufacturers are required to submit both documents immediately if requested by a market surveillance authority (MSA).

The PPWR applies not only to consumer goods like cosmetics, food, and daily necessities, but also to packaging used for business-to-business (B2B) shipments of electronic and mechanical parts. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have already been expanding their use of eco-friendly packaging materials in preparation for these changes.

Last year, Samsung Electronics produced all packaging for the Galaxy S25 series using 100% recycled paper. Even the plastic trays used to secure products were switched to "pulp mold," a type of formed paper cushioning shaped to the product's contours.

LG Electronics is also broadening the use of eco-friendly materials, such as pulp mold made from 100% recycled paper and recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS). With the implementation of the new regulation, packaging design, materials management, and supply chain management systems are expected to be further strengthened.

However, not all PPWR requirements will be enforced simultaneously from August 12, 2026. Companies must first minimize the presence of hazardous substances (SoC) in packaging, and the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is restricted in packaging that comes into direct contact with food.

The ban on non-recyclable packaging will take effect starting in 2030. Packaging that receives a recycling grade of D or lower will not be allowed on the EU market. There will also be an obligation to minimize the weight and volume of packaging. In e-commerce, the empty space inside a box must not exceed 50% of the total volume.

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