Article 12-13Labelling

EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) Labelling and Consumer Information

Build labels and digital marking workflows you can scale across SKUs.

Output: compliant artwork, QR/digital payloads, and a release process with evidence.

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Author

Sorena AI

Published

Feb 21, 2026

Updated

Feb 21, 2026

Sections

Structured answer sets in this page tree.

Primary sources

Cited legal and guidance references.

Publication metadata

Sorena AI

Published Feb 21, 2026

Updated Feb 21, 2026

Overview

PPWR labelling is not just a marketing exercise - it is a harmonised system designed to improve sorting, enable reuse systems, and communicate deposit-and-return requirements. The risk is twofold: (1) non-compliant labels and (2) confusing or misleading labels that create enforcement and consumer-trust issues. Use this page to implement Article 12-13 as a release-ready workflow.

Section 1

What PPWR requires for packaging labels (Article 12)

Article 12 introduces a harmonised label containing information on material composition to facilitate consumer sorting, plus specific requirements for compostable packaging messaging and deposit-bearing packaging labels.

Harmonised composition label: packaging placed on the market must carry the label from 12 Aug 2028 or 24 months after implementing acts (whichever is later).
Compostable packaging label: for specified compostable packaging, the label must indicate compostable, not suitable for home composting, and not to be discarded in nature.
DRS marking: packaging subject to deposit-and-return systems must be marked with a clear, unambiguous label; a harmonised colour label may be introduced via implementing acts.
Digital option: economic operators may include a QR code or other standardised, open digital data carrier with guidance on disposal destinations for components.

Section 2

Reusable packaging labelling (and why QR/digital carriers matter)

Reusable packaging has additional labelling requirements and is expected to support tracking/rotation calculation where feasible.

Reusable label: reusable packaging placed on the market from 12 Feb 2029 (or 30 months after implementing acts) must bear a label informing users that it is reusable.
QR/digital carrier: provide information on reuse systems, collection points, and (where feasible) tracking of trips/rotations.
Point-of-sale differentiation: reusable sales packaging should be clearly distinguished from single-use packaging.
Edge case: open-loop systems without a system operator can have specific derogations; document which model you use.

Section 3

Digital marking methodologies (composition + substances of concern)

PPWR anticipates standardised, open digital marking technologies to identify material composition and (later) substances of concern. Design your data model now so you're not rebuilding later.

By 12 Aug 2026: implementing acts establish methodology for identifying material composition via digital marking (including composite packaging and components).
By 1 Jan 2030: implementing acts establish methodology for identifying substances of concern via digital marking (including name and concentration per material).
Practical implication: build a packaging data model that can carry composition, component destination, and substances metadata per component.

Section 4

Waste receptacle labels (Article 13): align consumer labels with bin labels

Member States must ensure harmonised labels are affixed/printed/engraved on packaging waste receptacles, aligned with packaging labels.

Phase-in: by 12 Aug 2028 or 30 months after implementing acts (whichever is later), receptacles must carry harmonised labels.
Implementing acts: by 12 Aug 2026, the Commission adopts specifications for receptacle labelling formats.
Operational implication: ensure packaging label claims and consumer instructions match actual collection systems in your target markets.

Section 5

Build a labelling release workflow (what 'done' means)

Treat labelling as a controlled release: artwork is evidence. If you can't show a decision record and a data payload, you can't defend the label.

Artwork control: approved label variants per SKU/market, with versioning and traceability.
Digital payload control: QR/data carrier destinations, languages, and accessibility checks.
Claims control: avoid misleading labels; if you make environmental claims, ensure they exceed minimum legal requirements and are properly scoped.
Evidence pack: store implementing-act references used, internal approvals, and samples/photos for each released label variant.

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