2026 is the start of the packaging regulation in the EU

¹JRC labeling proposal January 13, 2026

Currently, national transpositions of the Packaging Directive 94/62/EC result in various voluntary and mandatory labels in the Member States with the aim of achieving the recycling rates of the Directive. With varying degrees of success: the recycling rates for packaging waste vary between 40% and 80% in the Member States (Eurostat, 2025). The PPWR provides for harmonized labelling in order to avoid unnecessary burdens on the internal market and to achieve the targets more efficiently.

The Joint Research Center (JRC) provides independent, evidence-based knowledge and scientific findings to support EU policy. The JRC was originally established under the Euratom Treaty and has many years of expertise in the nuclear field. However, it offers scientific expertise from a wide range of disciplines to support almost all EU policy areas.

On January 13, 2026, the JRC published a technical proposal for a harmonized waste sorting label according to the PPWR. This is intended to support the responsible Directorate-General Environment of the European Commission in the implementing act for labeling expected by August 12, 2026. The proposal includes a material-based approach and combines pictograms, color coding, minimal text, accessibility features and optional digital tools. Future changes and consultations are to be expected due to the complexity.

• Pictograms: The alphanumeric codes of Decision 97/129/EC should not be used, but generally easy-to-understand pictograms that promote intuitive sorting (p. 82)
• Color coding: Proposal to use the intended colors whenever possible, achromatic codes only in exceptional cases (p. 55 f.), hex codes (p. 60 f.)
• Text: Description of the material should appear under the pictogram (p. 71)
• Language: One or more languages understandable to the end user. If several languages are required, the text area on the label can be enlarged proportionally. The main language (usually the national language) should come first, followed by the other languages (p. 81)
• Size: Pictogram: 15 mm (text: 1.2 mm), small packaging: 10 mm (text 0.8 mm), very small packaging: QR code or other digital data carrier (p. 84)
• Placement: All labels must be visible, legible and permanent at the time of disposal and must never be obscured, ideally in the vicinity of other important consumer information such as barcodes, ingredient lists or recycling symbols (p. 87 ff.)
• Digital tools: QR codes are primarily proposed as an optional supplement to the EU-harmonized waste separation label or the corresponding labels. QR codes must be large enough to be reliably scanned by standard smartphones. A standard size of 20 mm × 20 mm is recommended for packaging; the minimum permissible size is 10 mm × 10 mm (p. 103)

Final label proposal (color and text)