Pallet wrapping exempted from 100% reuse requirement under EU packaging legislation
Today, the European Commission decided that wrapping and straps used to secure goods on pallets during transport will not have to meet the EU’s 100% reuse requirement under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This balanced approach reinforces the EU’s commitment to advancing a circular economy while acknowledging operational feasibility.
This decision follows a Commission’s study assessing the feasibility for an exemption to the 100% reuse target for pallet wrapping and straps used within companies and between companies in the same Member State, set under the PPWR. The study concluded that the exclusive use of reusable pallet wrappings and straps for transport operations when used within the same company or among linked or partner companies, or for deliveries within the same Member State, could lead to disproportionate adaptation costs.
The exemption ensures operators can meet the other overall 40% reusability target under the PPWR without facing undue burdens associated with specific packaging components, aligning sustainability goals with current technological and financial realities. Indeed, under the Regulation, from 1 January 2030, economic operators in the EU will have to ensure that at least 40% of transport and sales packaging, including pallets and pallet wrapping and straps, is reusable.
