Your PPWR questions answered

The PPWR is a new EU packaging law. It applies to all packaging sold in the EU and aims to reduce waste, improve real-life recycling, and increase reuse over time.

Miron supplies packaging used for products sold in the EU. If your business puts a product in packaging and sells it in the EU, the PPWR applies to that packaging.

No. The PPWR is already in place, but some detailed technical rules and methods are still being developed. Further guidance and technical criteria are expected between 2026 and 2028.

The PPWR is being implemented in stages. While the regulation already applies across the EU, many specific requirements will take effect over the coming years as the European Commission finalizes detailed technical guidelines and standards. 12 August 2026: The PPWR became applicable across the EU. 2026 to 2028: The European Commission gradually publishes detailed technical guidelines and standards to help businesses prepare for upcoming compliance deadlines. 12 August 2028: All packaging must bear the harmonized sorting label. 1 January 2030: All packaging must be recyclable and minimized according to the technical requirements previously adopted. Plastic packaging must also include a minimum share of recycled content. 1 January 2035: Recycling at scale becomes mandatory. This phased approach gives the entire supply chain time to prepare and adapt as the detailed requirements are finalized.

Under the PPWR, the manufacturer is generally the company that has packaging designed or manufactured and markets it under its own name or trademark. For example, if you buy a jar and closure from Miron, fill it with your product, label it, and sell the finished pack under your own brand, you may be considered the manufacturer of that packaging. Miron is the supplier of the components we provide. As the manufacturer, you are responsible for demonstrating that the packaging you place on the market meets the applicable PPWR requirements. This includes carrying out the conformity assessment, compiling the technical documentation, and drawing up the EU Declaration of Conformity. Miron can support you by providing relevant information and documentation for the components we supply.

If you are the manufacturer, there are three main steps: Carry out a conformity assessment for each packaging type you place on the market, based on the PPWR requirements that currently apply. Compile the technical documentation that supports your assessment, including relevant information and evidence for the packaging and its components. Draw up and sign the EU Declaration of Conformity and keep it available and up to date. Your suppliers support this process by providing relevant information for the components they supply. Miron can provide available documentation and technical information for the Miron components you use.

Under PPWR Article 15, the formal EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is drawn up and signed exclusively by the brand owner placing the finished packaged product on the market. As a packaging supplier under Article 16, Miron does not issue a final DoC. Instead, we provide you with a comprehensive Article 16 Supplier Compliance Statement. This contains all necessary technical data and chemical declarations for you to confidently sign your own DoC.

Our Article 16 Supplier Compliance Statement supplies all underlying data required for your Annex VII Technical File. This includes certified heavy metal concentration limits, PFAS-free declarations, a detailed material composition breakdown by component weight, and baseline recyclability data.

Miron glass aligns with several PPWR objectives because of its durability, recyclability, and suitability for reuse. Some adjustments may be needed as the detailed requirements are finalized, particularly for closures such as caps, pumps, and pipettes. Miron is working with European partners to optimize its closure portfolio and will continue to inform customers as the requirements develop.

Not necessarily. The PPWR is being introduced in stages. As of 12 August 2026, the primary requirement is documentation, while physical design requirements will be introduced step by step toward 2030. For Miron packaging, changes are expected to affect closures and other components more than the glass container itself. Miron is continuing to assess its packaging as the detailed technical requirements are finalized.

No. The PPWR minimum recycled content targets apply to plastic packaging and plastic components, not to glass. Plastic components such as closures may therefore be affected. From 2030, minimum recycled content targets apply to different categories of plastic packaging. Miron is working with its suppliers toward the applicable 2030 requirements.

Glass is infinitely recyclable and benefits from established collection and recycling infrastructure across Europe. From 1 January 2030, packaging must be designed for recycling and achieve at least Grade C (>70%) under the applicable technical requirements. The detailed methodology is still being developed by the European Commission. Miron is monitoring these requirements and assessing its packaging to prepare for the final technical criteria.

A formal recyclability grade cannot yet be assigned. Under the PPWR, packaging will be classified as Grade A, B, or C based on collection, sorting, and recycling performance. The European Commission is still developing the methodology, which is scheduled to be published by 1 January 2028. Miron will share official recyclability assessments once the relevant standards and methodologies are available, ahead of the 2030 requirements.

Dark violet glass can be more challenging for optical sorting systems to detect due to its color and composition. Recycling performance varies across Europe, depending on local collection and sorting infrastructure. Miron is conducting optical sorting tests across European recycling facilities and testing small adjustments to the glass formula to improve detectability while maintaining its protective properties and appearance.

From 1 January 2035, packaging must be collected, sorted, and recycled at scale. The methodology for assessing recycled-at-scale performance will be defined by packaging category by 1 January 2030. Miron is preparing by conducting optical sorting tests across European recycling facilities and exploring small adjustments to its glass formula to improve detectability while maintaining its protective properties and appearance.

The PPWR sets specific limits for heavy metals and PFAS. For heavy metals, the combined concentration of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium may not exceed 100 mg/kg. Specific provisions apply to recycled glass where traces originate from recycled material and the metals have not been intentionally introduced during manufacturing. None of these four heavy metals is intentionally added to the glass Miron supplies. For PFAS, the PPWR sets limits for food-contact packaging. For the food-contact materials we supply, PFAS are not intentionally added during manufacture, and based on the information available to us, we have no indication of their presence above the applicable limits. Remember to consider the complete packaging system, including closures, liners, coatings, and decorations.

Yes. Based on the information currently available, PFAS are not intentionally added at any stage of the manufacturing process, including glass containers, surface treatments, colorings, cap liners, and closure assemblies. Written confirmation is included in Miron’s Supplier Compliance Statement.

Yes. Miron can provide the material classification and exact weight in grams for each separable packaging component. Depending on the packaging configuration, this may include the glass container, cap, pump, dip tube, rubber bulb, and liner. Materials are classified by type, such as violet glass, PP, PE, or aluminum.

Closures and accessories are often more complex than glass containers. They may contain multiple materials, use more virgin plastic, and be more difficult to sort and recycle. Under the PPWR, packaging design is moving toward simpler structures, mono-material solutions, better separability, and greater compatibility with recycling systems. Plastic components may also be subject to minimum recycled content requirements from 2030.

Miron is working with European partners to optimize its closure portfolio in preparation for the PPWR. The focus is on simpler designs, mono-material solutions, better separability, and compatibility with recycling systems. Miron is also expanding options such as wood, aluminum, tin, mono-material and PP solutions, and non-glued liners.

Miron is monitoring the development of the PPWR requirements and preparing its packaging portfolio accordingly. This includes conducting optical sorting tests for violet glass, researching lightweighting opportunities, and working with European partners to optimize closures and other components. Miron is also preparing the technical information customers need to support their own PPWR documentation.

Miron’s Article 16 Supplier Compliance Statement provides technical information to support your PPWR documentation, including information on material composition, component weights, heavy metals, PFAS, and baseline recyclability data. You can access the Supplier Compliance Statement on our PPWR page: https://miron.com/about/ppwr/

Miron will continue to inform customers as technical guidelines, standards, and implementation requirements become clearer. Relevant updates will be shared through Miron’s sales representatives and PPWR resources, particularly as the requirements for 2030 and 2035 approach.

Miron provides practical guidance to help you understand what to review, what to prepare, and when action may be required under the PPWR. You can find our practical PPWR guide and other resources here: https://miron.com/about/ppwr/