What is the PPWR?
The PPWR is the EU regulation on packaging and packaging waste. It covers the full packaging lifecycle and includes requirements around recyclability, material use, labelling, reuse and the minimisation of excessive packaging.
Why packaging data matters more now
Before you can evaluate many packaging obligations, you need to know what packaging you use. Useful foundations include components, materials, weights, supplier or measurement evidence, effective dates and how shipping packaging is linked to orders.
Especially relevant to e-commerce
The PPWR includes an empty-space limit for grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging. It sets a maximum 50% empty-space ratio by 1 January 2030, or three years after the relevant implementing act enters into force if that is later. The Commission must establish the calculation methodology by 12 February 2028.
Filling materials such as air cushions and paper filling are, in principle, treated as empty space for this calculation. Consistent shipping-packaging data therefore becomes increasingly useful.
What PackVerity already helps with
PackVerity is not a PPWR certification tool. The WooCommerce plugin does provide a useful foundation by turning product and shipping packaging into traceable order-linked records with historical versions.
- packaging weight by material at product and variation level;
- shipping profiles for boxes, mailers, tape and filling;
- historical snapshots so later changes do not rewrite old orders;
- audit trail and append-only corrections;
- CSV export by country and year.
Selected PPWR milestones
The PPWR starts to apply across the EU.
Deadline for, among other things, the implementing methodology for calculating empty space.
Several additional requirements become relevant, including the 50% empty-space limit for the specified packaging categories, subject to the final implementation timeline.
Official sources
For legal decisions, always verify the current regulation and guidance. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on EUR-Lex ↗ · European Commission: rules apply from 12 August 2026 ↗