On August 12, 2026, the EU’s PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) will officially take full effect;
On December 30 of the same year, the EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) will also become mandatory for large and medium-sized enterprises.
The combined impact of these two regulations places significant pressure on exporters to ensure packaging compliance, while also opening up new market opportunities for innovative green packaging materials.
PPWR Tightens Packaging Compliance Requirements
The PPWR focuses on the packaging itself, imposing mandatory restrictions on heavy metals, PFAS substances, the proportion of recycled materials, void ratio, recyclability grades, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
The total content of the four heavy metals—lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium—must not exceed 100 ppm;
Regulators impose strict controls on PFAS in food-contact packaging materials;
The void ratio for e-commerce and shipping packaging must not exceed 50%;
Packaging materials are categorized into recyclability grades A, B and C. From 2038 onwards, only grade A and B packaging can be placed on the EU market.
Many companies have already encountered practical risks, with goods being detained at ports due to the absence of EPR markings on their packaging, resulting in losses from port delays.
EUDR Extends Compliance to Raw Material Sources
The EUDR, which follows closely behind, extends these controls to the source of packaging raw materials.
For paper cartons and boxes, unless they are made from 100% recycled paper, manufacturers must complete due diligence on the wood supply chain to prove that the raw material sources do not contribute to deforestation.
This requires providing traceability documentation such as proof of legal harvesting and FSC/PEFC certifications.
Many exporters have just completed their PPWR compliance efforts and now face the supply chain traceability requirements of the EUDR.
While the two sets of regulations have different requirements, they can share data such as bills of materials (BOMs), supplier declarations, and material traceability information, thereby reducing the costs associated with duplicate compliance efforts.
Corrugated Sheets Offer an Alternative to Traditional Packaging
The shortcomings of traditional paper cartons and foam boxes in exports to the EU are becoming increasingly apparent.
Ordinary paper cartons are prone to moisture damage and rot, resulting in persistently high spoilage rates for fresh produce in cold-chain logistics;
Additionally, paper packaging incurs compliance costs associated with the EUDR’s timber traceability requirements.
Foam boxes are difficult to recycle, contribute to “white pollution,” and face significant restrictions under the PPWR framework.
In contrast, PP- and PE-based Corrugated sheet packaging, as a new eco-friendly packaging solution, holds promise for addressing these pain points.
Corrugated sheet, also called Wantong board, adopts polypropylene and polyethylene as base materials and allows high loading of industrial solid waste powders including calcium carbonate and phosphogypsum.
Since it does not require paper or wood raw materials, it naturally circumvents the EUDR’s traceability requirements for wood sources.
The material itself is waterproof, moisture-resistant, pressure-resistant, wear-resistant, and low-temperature-resistant, making it suitable for the cold-chain transportation of fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood.
The products are foldable and recyclable, fully aligning with the PPWR’s policy direction on recyclability.
Besides, the lamination process enables high-definition printing to satisfy aesthetic demands of high-end retail packaging.
One-Step Production Reduces Costs and Utilizes Industrial Waste
The one-step Corrugated sheet production line boasts prominent technical advantages.
It realizes the direct molding of powdered raw materials in production. This innovative process eliminates the traditional granulation procedure.
It cuts down production costs by about 400 yuan per metric ton of products.
Meanwhile, it supports the resource utilization of bulk industrial solid waste. Typical applicable materials include phosphogypsum and similar industrial wastes.
Guizhou Phosphate Group has launched the world’s first one-step production line for phosphogypsum hollow-core packaging boards, transforming industrial waste into new packaging materials.
The company also benefits from the VAT immediate refund policy for comprehensive resource utilization, thereby balancing environmental and economic benefits.
How Exporters Can Prepare for PPWR and EUDR
In the face of the EU’s escalating green trade barriers, export companies cannot limit themselves to merely affixing labels; they must proactively plan.
First, review all packaging for export products, verify the levels of heavy metals, PFAS, and recycled PCR content, and strictly control the void ratio of packaging;
Second, for paper packaging, request timber traceability documents from suppliers in advance to prepare for EUDR compliance;
Third, evaluate alternative materials and focus on green packaging options—such as Corrugated sheets—that do not require wood-based raw materials, are recyclable, and are suitable for cold-chain logistics;
Fourth, refine EPR registration, declarations of conformity, and supplier traceability systems, and integrate the data foundations of the PPWR and EUDR to reduce duplicate work.
The EU’s PPWR and EUDR are not merely short-term trade barriers, but rather bellwethers for the green transformation of the global packaging industry.
Compliance costs for conventional paper and foam packaging continue to rise. Green packaging products are produced using industrial solid waste feedstocks.
Typical products include environmentally friendly Corrugated sheets. These packaging materials satisfy practical product protection requirements.
They also conform to international environmental protection regulations. Thus, they will become a core development trend for China’s packaging industry and foreign trade exports.
The sooner companies complete compliance upgrades for their materials and supply chains, the better positioned they will be to gain a competitive edge in the international market.