From 12 August 2026, the EU rules for plastic packaging will change: food packaging containing PFAS above specific thresholds will be banned in the European market, while the limits on materials containing heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium will be strengthened.
The news, in reality, is not new at all (we had already talked about it here in relation to single-dose sachets of ketchup and mayonnaise), but the topic is being discussed again in view of the summer deadline, given that on 12 August the EU Regulation 2025/40 will become fully operational.
Unlike what has been reported by various newspapers, however, single-use plastic products – including multipack packaging for water and fruit and vegetables – will not be banned from next August, but will only become mandatory from 1 January 2030.
From 12 August 2026, packaging with PFAS will be banned
As mentioned, the bans on plastic packaging will not come into force on August 12th: plastic bottles, single-use sachets and multipacks (i.e. packages of grouped products, such as cases of water) will continue to be sold. However, the way in which this packaging will be produced will change.
The most relevant point concerns PFAS, the so-called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: from 12 August 2026, food packaging containing PFAS above very precise thresholds will be banned on the European market, i.e. 25 parts per billion (ppb) for each individual PFAS identified with targeted analysis, 250 ppb for the sum of all PFAS detected and 50 ppm for PFAS (including PFAS polymeric).
Be careful, however, because there is no transitional period to dispose of stocks. This means that packaging produced before the deadline, but placed on the market after 12 August 2026, will already have to comply with the new limits. Those already on the shelves before that date, however, will be able to remain on the market.
Alongside PFAS, the regulation also confirms the limits for heavy metals: the total concentration of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium in packaging (or in their components) cannot exceed 100 mg/kg. This limit applies to any type of packaging, regardless of the material.
In essence, from August all packaging will have to be designed to minimize the presence of harmful substances and manufacturers will be required to prepare technical documentation and declarations of conformity to demonstrate compliance with the new requirements.
From 1 January 2030, goodbye to multipacks, disposable sachets and more
The changes, however, will come into force on January 1, 2030, when bans on various single-use plastic packaging formats will come into effect. More specifically, the stop will concern:
- Multipack packaging, such as plastic films or rings used to hold together the six bottles of water we buy at the supermarket.
- Disposable plastic packaging for pre-packaged fresh fruit and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg: for example, nets for oranges and lemons, fruit trays, salad bags, with some exceptions related to the need to avoid microbiological risks, loss of water or damage from impacts.
- Disposable plastic packaging for food and drinks consumed on premises (such as trays, plates, glasses), disposable sachets for condiments, sauces, coffee cream and sugar (those of ketchup, mayonnaise, oil and vinegar served with salads).
- Disposable bottle packaging for cosmetics and toiletries in hotels (such as shampoo, shower gel and similar intended to be used and thrown away between guests).
- Most very light plastic bags (those less than 15 microns thick) will also be banned, unless they are necessary for hygiene reasons or to prevent food waste.
In short, bringing the focus back to water bottles – so far one of the most debated topics especially due to the transport difficulties that would be created for citizens, as well as for businesses in the sector – the bottle itself will not be banned, but its “outline” will significantly change.
In addition to the disappearance of the plastic multipack, from 2030 single-use plastic bottles for drinks will have to contain at least 30% recycled material recovered from post-consumer plastic waste. This percentage is set to rise to 65% by 2040. In parallel, the regulation introduces a system of recyclability performance classes (A, B and C): from 2030, packaging that does not reach at least class C cannot be placed on the market, and from 2038 the minimum threshold will rise to class B.
The requirement for a deposit on plastic water bottles
Then there is another obligation that closely concerns plastic water bottles: the security deposit system. The EU Regulation, in fact, establishes that by 1 January 2029 all Member States will have to guarantee the separate collection of at least 90% by weight of disposable plastic bottles for drinks (with a maximum capacity of 3 litres) and disposable metal containers for drinks (always up to 3 litres).
To achieve this objective, each Member State will have to establish a deposit system: in practice, at the time of purchase the consumer pays a small deposit on the bottle or can, which will be returned to him when he brings the empty container back to the collection point – which already happens in some EU countries such as Germany.
However, there is an exemption clause: Member States that demonstrate that they have already achieved a separate collection rate of at least 80% by 2026 (by presenting a concrete strategy to reach the 90% target by 2029) will be able to request not to establish the system. The exemption, however, lapses if the collection rate falls below 90% for three consecutive years.
However, this is an extremely high percentage: to be clear, according to the latest ISPRA report, in 2024 Italy – which is the first country in the EU in terms of recycling rate – managed to intercept around 68% of plastic beverage packaging.
