New regs – the big steps for converters to take now!
By Charlotte Neumair, Specialist & Team Lead at Circular Analytics
Meeting the regulatory framework for food safety, security and sustainability in packaging is going to cause a lot of headaches in the coming months and years.
Although converters will not be as affected by brand owners since they still have a pretty good playground, now is the time for preparation because the new rules with dozens of new requirements from 2030.
By then all packaging must be recyclable by design and recyclable at scale, with tighter restrictions on plastic packaging and single-use bans.
Rushing up even faster is the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) that introduces several key guidelines for packaging from 2028 onwards.
Data gaps and unclear communication along the supply chain make it challenging to meet all new requirements.
My experience shows that converters are entering a phase where preparation is becoming critical. But when they need to make fast changes on packaging, and sometimes industrial scale production for fast turnarounds, at least packaging produced digital has many benefits.
Here are a few pointers to help with the new regulations:
- Build up and work over the changes – take expert advice
- Set out your actions and checklist that will continue to evolve
- Identify the exact regulations that will affect your business
- Communication and collaboration are really needed to fulfil requirements
- The big questions are:
- Which packaging data do you really need?
- How do you spot and close data gaps?
- How can you streamline data flow with suppliers and customers?
New packaging, new processes – they all take time. And printing is only one element in the overall production process where all elements are crucial.
The bottom line is act now. Don’t wait until every step is defined.
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