EU Mandatory Labelling for Flexible Plastic Packaging

Following an update circulated by the British Plastics Federation, there are important upcoming changes to mandatory packaging labelling across the EU under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published technical proposals and consultation outcomes to harmonise waste-sorting labels and overcome recycling inefficiencies, recommending unified colour-coded symbols and pictograms, as well as waste receptacles and other solutions.

What is changing?

• The EU is moving toward mandatory, harmonised packaging labels to help consumers correctly sort packaging waste.
• Labels will clearly indicate material composition and how/where to dispose of packaging, using consistent pictograms across all EU member states.
• These changes form part of the wider PPWR, which replaces the previous Packaging Directive with a single, directly applicable regulation.

Who is affected?

• Any business placing packaged goods on the EU market, including UK manufacturers exporting into the EU.
• Particularly relevant for companies using flexible plastic packaging, which can be more complex to identify and recycle.
• Brand owners, converters, and pack designers will all need to ensure packaging artwork and specifications are compliant.

When will this happen?

• The PPWR came into force in 2025 and applies from 12 August 2026.
• Detailed labelling rules will be finalised via secondary legislation, with mandatory harmonised labels expected to follow shortly after, likely requiring packaging artwork updates by 2027–2028 depending on final timelines.

What might customers need to do?

• Review existing packaging designs, especially flexible plastics.
• Prepare for artwork changes to include EU‑standardised sorting and material labels.
• Engage early with packaging suppliers and designers to avoid last‑minute compliance risks.
• Monitor further guidance as the EU confirms final label formats and implementation deadlines.

We are here to help; please talk to one of our team if you have questions relating to your packaging and the above changes.