Design packaging so weight and volume are reduced to the minimum necessary for functionality, and document the assessment against the Annex IV performance criteria.
Manufacturers and importers of packaging must comply, and this is law in force.
Why it matters
This is law in force, not a proposal.
- It is Art. 10(1) and (4), in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. as of 2026-08-18
- The act gives its timing as: By 1 January 2030 (Art. 10(1)). as of 2026-08-18
- It names 7 industries by name: Plastics converting, Paper and board, Glass, Aluminium, Wood, Food and drink and Retail. as of 2026-08-18
- Compliance is checked by technical documentation (Annex VII), per packaging design. as of 2026-08-18
What changes
All packaging designers. The documentation limb is the heavy one: Art. 10(4) requires the technical specifications used, the design requirement that prevents further reduction for each Annex IV criterion, and any test results, studies, modelling or simulations relied on.
The rule
packaging placed on the market
Design packaging so weight and volume are reduced to the minimum necessary for functionality, and document the assessment against the Annex IV performance criteria.
Who is affected
Burden drivers
No size threshold.
Source text
the manufacturer or importer shall ensure that the packaging placed on the market is designed so that its weight and volume is reduced to the minimum necessary to ensure its functionality
View source →Settled later in secondary legislation. Art. 10(3) has the Commission request harmonised standards by 12 February 2027 specifying maximum weight and volume limits and, where appropriate, wall thickness and maximum empty space for common formats.