Make at least 10% of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available in reusable packaging within a re-use system, rising to an endeavour of 40% from 2040, and ensure own-brand packaged products contribute fairly and proportionately.
Final distributors of beverages must comply, and this is law in force.
Why it matters
This is law in force, not a proposal.
- It is Art. 29(6), in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. as of 2026-08-18
- The act gives its timing as: From 1 January 2030; 40% endeavour from 1 January 2040 (Art. 29(6)). as of 2026-08-18
- It names 2 industries by name: Retail and Food and drink. as of 2026-08-18
- Compliance is checked by competent authority, on the Art. 31 report, annual, per calendar year. as of 2026-08-18
What changes
Beverage producers and grocery retail, and the single most commercially significant target in the act. Art. 29(7) excludes highly perishable beverages, milk and milk products, most grapevine products, aromatised wine, similar fruit and vegetable fermented drinks, and spirits -- so the target lands on water, soft drinks and beer.
The rule
making beverages in sales packaging available to consumers in a Member State
Make at least 10% of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available in reusable packaging within a re-use system, rising to an endeavour of 40% from 2040, and ensure own-brand packaged products contribute fairly and proportionately.
Who is affected
Burden drivers
Three carve-outs, all eligibility attributes on this duty: Art. 29(10) exempts a final distributor with a sales area of not more than 100 m2 in that year; Art. 29(11) lets Member States exempt sales areas on islands under 2 000 inhabitants or in municipalities under 54 persons/km2, except population centres over 5 000; Art. 29(13) exempts micro-enterprises under the 1 000 kg limb.
Source text
final distributors that make alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in sales packaging available on the territory of a Member State to consumers shall ensure that at least 10 % of those products are made available in reusable packaging within a re-use system.
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