Packaging that qualifies as innovative may be sold for up to five years from the end of the year it was first placed on the market even though it does not meet the recyclability requirement -- a run-in period no other packaging gets.
Economic operators placing innovative packaging on the market are given a right, and this is law in force.
Why it matters
This is law in force, not a proposal.
- It is Art. 6(10), in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. as of 2026-08-18
- The act gives its timing as: From 1 January 2030 (Art. 6(10)). as of 2026-08-18
- It names 5 industries by name: Plastics converting, Paper and board, Glass, Aluminium and Wood. as of 2026-08-18
- Compliance is checked by competent authority, per packaging. as of 2026-08-18
What changes
Operators bringing genuinely novel formats to market. The competent authority decides whether the packaging is innovative; if it says no, the operator must comply with the existing criteria.
The rule
packaging notified to the competent authority as innovative, with technical details and a timeline for reaching the recycled-at-scale requirement
Packaging that qualifies as innovative may be sold for up to five years from the end of the year it was first placed on the market even though it does not meet the recyclability requirement -- a run-in period no other packaging gets.
Who is affected
Burden drivers
No size threshold.
Source text
innovative packaging that does not comply with the requirements under paragraph 2 may be made available on the market up to 5 years from the end of the calendar year in which it was placed on the market.
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