Cartons, boxes & compacts

Under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): recyclability grades A ≥95%, B ≥80% and C ≥70% (only grades A and B permitted from 2038). Minimum post-consumer recycled (PCR) content: 30% for contact-sensitive PET packaging and 10% for contact-sensitive plastic packaging made from materials other than PET (cosmetic bottles and jars fall into this category, which is less demanding than the 35% for other plastic packaging). Empty space ratio for grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging: ≤50%. Note that Annex V, item 5 (single-use cosmetic packaging in the hospitality sector) contains neither the word 'plastic' nor any ml or g threshold, so the ban applies to all materials; switching to glass, paper or aluminium does not avoid it.

What to do: Packaging suppliers and brands should move early towards mono-material and easy-to-separate designs. Dark carbon-black bottles, multi-material composites and pumps with non-separable metal springs are at high risk of falling below grade C. For the hospitality channel, options include wall-mounted refillable dispensers and large-format refill pouches, which also represent a new product opportunity.

Source: Reg (EU) 2025/40