New PPWR Obligations: What Do the New Regulations Mean for Manufacturers of Pharmaceuticals, Food Supplements, Cosmetics?
As of 12 August 2026, the first requirements arising from the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) begin to apply, fundamentally changing the approach to packaging across the European Union.
For manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics, veterinary products, and medical devices, this means that packaging is no longer merely a component that protects the product, but also an area subject to increasingly detailed regulatory requirements.
PPWR Is Much More Than Recycling
While PPWR is most commonly associated with the circular economy and reducing packaging waste, the scope of the new requirements is significantly broader.
The Regulation covers, among other things:
- Requirements regarding the material composition of packaging
- New documentation obligations
- Conformity assessment and declarations of conformity
- Requirements related to data traceability
- Gradually introduced requirements concerning recyclability and the use of recycled materials
In practice, this means that businesses will need to analyze not only the product itself, but also every component of its packaging in much greater detail.
Documentation Is Becoming as Important as the Packaging Itself
One of the most significant changes is the growing importance of technical documentation.
Companies will increasingly need to demonstrate packaging compliance based on data provided by packaging manufacturers, raw material suppliers, and the results of relevant testing.
For many organizations, this will require establishing more structured processes for obtaining information from suppliers and ensuring its completeness, accuracy, and validity.
This is also one of the reasons why selecting a packaging supplier has become a far more strategic decision than it was just a few years ago.
The Role of Packaging Suppliers Is Changing with PPWR
In the new regulatory environment, a packaging supplier is no longer simply a manufacturer of packaging components.
Increasingly, suppliers are becoming partners who support their customers in regulatory compliance, quality management, and documentation processes.
Today, customers expect not only products with the appropriate technical specifications, but also access to material data, declarations, technical documentation, and support during audits and conformity assessments.
How Is POLFA Lublin Preparing?
At POLFA Lublin, we have been preparing our processes and documentation for PPWR requirements for many months.
For packaging covered by the Regulation, we are developing individual Declarations of Conformity based on three key sources of information:
- POLFA Lublin technical documentation
- Verified documentation from raw material and material suppliers
- Results of the required laboratory testing
As a result, our customers receive not only a Declaration of Conformity, but also the assurance that it has been prepared on the basis of complete and verified data.
At the same time, we are preparing for the next stages of PPWR implementation related to packaging recyclability, the use of recycled content, packaging design optimization, and new information obligations.
PPWR as an Opportunity
The new regulations introduce additional responsibilities for the entire market, but they can also serve as a catalyst for more efficient and innovative packaging solutions.
Companies that already work with partners prepared for the upcoming changes will find it easier to adapt to subsequent stages of PPWR implementation and reduce risks associated with regulatory requirements.
For this reason, when selecting a packaging supplier, it is worth considering not only price and delivery times, but also the supplier’s readiness to support customers in the areas of quality, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
At POLFA Lublin, we believe that the future of the packaging industry will be built not only on the product itself, but also on reliable data, high-quality documentation, and effective support in helping customers meet increasingly demanding regulatory requirements.