From 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40) will apply: every type of packaging placed on the EU market must have an EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and full technical documentation.From 12 August 2026, every type of packaging placed on the EU market will require a valid PPWR Declaration of Conformity and underlying technical documentation.
This guide gives compliance, quality, and packaging teams a practical, step-by-step roadmap (you can find more detailed explanations in the PPWR Guide 2026):
- which documentation obligations specifically apply under the PPWR
- how to build robust technical documentation for your packaging portfolio
- how to make effective use of compliance checklists and templates
- how to connect PPWR requirements with the German Packaging Act (VerpackG)
- how to integrate processes into existing systems and automate them via digital packaging management (e.g. Packa software)
Note: This article does not replace legal advice. It shows how to build documentation in a structured, data-driven, and audit-ready way.
Before you start: Clarify prerequisites and fundamentals
Before you use PPWR checklists, Declarations of Conformity or technical dossiers, clarify the basic prerequisites.
Technical and organizational prerequisites
- Roles & responsibilities
- Who holds PPWR responsibility in your organization (e.g. QA/Regulatory, Head of Packaging, Sustainability Manager)?
- What is your company's role under the PPWR (for more information: Overview of roles in the PPWR)?
- Scope & markets
- In which EU countries do you place packaging on the market?
- Which country-specific obligations from EPR/VerpackG are relevant?
- Governance
- Do you have a defined approval process for new or changed packaging?
- Who signs the Declaration of Conformity (authorized signatory)?
Data and system prerequisites
- Complete overview of your packaging portfolio (main packaging types)
- Access to relevant data:
- ERP / PIM / PLM
- Supplier specifications and certificates
- Laboratory reports, recyclability assessments, internal test reports
- An initial structure for central packaging data (e.g. via digital packaging management such as Packa software)
Prepare templates and checklists
Introduce standardized documents early on:
