PPWR Article 7: how much recycled plastic your packaging must contain

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PPWR Article 7 minimum recycled plastic content targets by packaging category, 2030 and 2040 deadlines.

From 1 January 2030, the plastic parts of packaging must contain a minimum share of post-consumer recycled content, with a second step in 2040. Single-use PET beverage bottles start at 30% in 2030 and reach 65% in 2040. Targets apply per category, not to the company average.

What the regulation says

Article 7 sets binding minimum post-consumer recycled-plastic targets, differentiated by category (Annex II): single-use PET beverage bottles (≤3 L) 30% (2030) → 65% (2040); other contact-sensitive PET packaging 30% → 50%; contact-sensitive packaging in plastics other than PET 10% → 25%; other plastic packaging 35% → 65%. The content must come from post-consumer waste and be verifiable through traceability and third-party certification: self-declaration is not enough. (Reg. EU 2025/40, Art. 7 and Annex II — EUR-Lex).

What it means for your SKU

Two recurring mistakes. First, reasoning by portfolio average instead of by packaging category — targets are per type, and a PET bottle doesn't "offset" another pack. Second, underestimating the lead-time of certified recycled material. EU food-grade rPET capacity is limited against expected 2030 demand, so material has to be booked now and supply contracts closed with verifiable certification — especially if you import from third countries.

There's a side benefit too: CONAI eco-modulation in Italy already rewards recycled content by lowering the fee band. Raising certified rPET is synergistic — it cuts the fee and moves you toward the Art. 7 target.

What to do now

  1. Classify plastic SKUs by Annex II category and compute the gap to the 2030 target.
  2. For PET bottles, verify certified food-grade rPET availability and lock in supply.
  3. Require verifiable recycled-content certification and chain of custody from suppliers (including non-EU).
  4. Cross with the fee band: where rPET lowers the fee, the business case beats the regulatory deadline.

FAQ

Which recycled-content percentages are mandatory? It depends on category: PET beverage bottles 30% (2030)→65% (2040); other contact-sensitive PET 30%→50%; contact-sensitive non-PET 10%→25%; other plastic packaging 35%→65%.

From when do they apply? From 1 January 2030, rising in 2040.

Does pre-consumer content count? No: post-consumer waste counts, save for specific derogations.

Is self-declaration enough? No: verifiable content with traceability and third-party certification is required.

Related: Article 6 — Recyclability · PPWR deadlines · CONAI plastic fee bands 2026 · PPWR Guide