787 974 136
August 2026 is approaching faster than most companies realise. For packaging manufacturers, PPWR is not just a change in technical requirements – it is a market shake-up in which some will gain new customers whilst others will lose their existing ones. Which companies will be on the right side of this change? Those that have prepared in advance and can prove it.
Companies producing consumer goods, food, cosmetics and household chemicals are already reviewing their portfolios of packaging suppliers in light of the PPWR. Procurement departments are asking one question: “Will your packaging supplier be able to provide us with PPWR-compliant packaging by August 2026?” If the answer is uncertain or negative – they look for someone else.
This means that packaging manufacturers who can already answer “yes” today and back this up with a concrete offer, documentation and samples – are in a completely different negotiating position to those who say “we’re working on it”. The market does not reward plans. It rewards readiness. In practice, preparing for the PPWR in advance brings companies far more benefits than simply meeting the new requirements.
For packaging manufacturers who have already invested in adapting their portfolio to the PPWR requirements – recyclable material structures, minimising grammage, and offering PCR materials – the coming months present a window of opportunity to win over customers moving away from suppliers unprepared for the changes. This is a concrete market opportunity that will close once everyone has adapted to the requirements.
The PPWR introduces an obligation to assess and classify the recyclability of all packaging on a scale from A to E. For packaging manufacturers, having a documented recyclability classification for their products – particularly in classes A and B – is becoming a new selling point with tangible market value.
A customer who needs to demonstrate that their packaging complies with the PPWR requirements needs not only the packaging itself from their supplier, but also complete documentation: a recyclability classification, a material specification confirming the PCR content, and a declaration of conformity. A packaging manufacturer that provides all of this alongside the product saves its customer half the work involved in ensuring compliance. This builds loyalty and makes it harder for the customer to switch suppliers.
What is more, packaging manufacturers in recyclability classes A and B will be able to highlight this classification in their sales materials and on their website – which sets them apart in an industry where most companies still offer unclassified products. Being the first in one’s category with a documented recyclability classification is a position that is difficult to replicate quickly.
The public sector is one of the largest purchasers of packaging and packaged products in Poland and across the EU. Public procurement contracts for office supplies, food for institutions, cleaning products and dozens of other categories – all involve packaging which, from August 2026, must comply with the PPWR requirements.
Public contracting authorities will increasingly specify packaging compliance with the PPWR as an eligibility criterion or a criterion for evaluating tenders. Packaging manufacturers with documented compliance with the PPWR and ready technical documentation will be able to respond efficiently to these requirements – which will translate into a higher success rate in tenders.
For companies serving both the private and public sectors, early preparation for the PPWR offers a twofold benefit: retaining existing private-sector clients who require compliance, and opening up opportunities for new public contracts which unprepared companies will be unable to bid for.
Achieving this level of preparedness requires proper planning and verification that the packaging complies with the PPWR requirements.
DJB DORADZTWO
Marcin Chorąży
