Feature, Freight News, Logistics


New EU rules put packaging in the spotlight

[ August 18, 2026   //   ]

Pallet pool operator Chep is urging UK businesses exporting food, drink, household, health and beauty, and personal care products into the European Union to consider the implications of the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

The new regulations are being introduced from 12 August, with total implementation scheduled for 2030.

The PPWR will cover all packaging placed on the EU market, including transport packaging such as pallets, containers and crates and is intended to reduce packaging waste and promote the reuse and recycling of packaging.

Although many detailed requirements are being phased in over time, it introduces significant reuse obligations from 2030. These include a requirement for at least 40% of specified transport packaging used within the EU to be reusable within a reuse system, with 100% requirements for certain movements within the same business group or within a single Member State.

CHEP commercial director Katie Ingham said that businesses will need to show how those assets move through a genuine reuse system. However, she added: “The challenge is that once packaging moves across different sites, partners, and markets, visibility can easily be lost. Companies that act now to review their responsibilities, recovery processes and supporting data will be far better placed to manage compliance risk and keep goods moving smoothly across Europe.

“British manufacturing companies need to know where pallets and containers go in Europe, whether they operate within a genuine reuse system, who is responsible for recovery and repair, and whether reliable data can be produced.”

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