EU PPWR: what tray fleets need to sort out before 2028.

What is PPWR?

The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) replaces the existing Packaging Directive from 1994. The new regulation imposes concrete reuse targets on companies that put packaging into circulation — and requires them to demonstrate that reuse.

For distributors working with reusable trays, crates and roll containers this means: you must be able to prove how many times a package has actually been reused, and how long it has been in circulation.

What changes in practice?

PPWR includes among other things:

• Reuse targets for specific packaging categories, particularly in the distribution of food and beverages
• Traceability requirements — packaging must be identifiable across the supply chain
• Reporting obligations to national authorities on reuse ratios

The exact implementation dates are set per member state, but the 2030 targets require systems to be operational before 2028.

What this means for your fleet

If you currently work with paper delivery notes or spreadsheets, you have no verifiable trail. You know how much you delivered, but you cannot demonstrate how many rotations a specific tray has made.

Ecolup records every transfer with timestamp, customer and photo. That gives you the base data you need for PPWR reporting — with no extra effort from your drivers.

What to do now?

• Map out which packaging types are in scope for your activity
• Check whether your current system records transfers per unit
• Evaluate whether your data can be exported for external reporting