July 9th, 2026 by DIGITAL2GO in Digitization
A package will soon be more than just cardboard, film, or cushioning material – it will become a dataset.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) officially entered into force on February 11, 2025. However, many of its key requirements will become legally applicable as of August 12, 2026. Companies are therefore faced with the challenge of not only using more sustainable packaging but also ensuring that the associated data are complete and digitally available.
The regulation affects businesses throughout the entire supply chain – from manufacturers and importers to retailers, logistics providers, and fulfillment service providers.
The objective of the regulation is to reduce packaging waste, improve recyclability, decrease the consumption of virgin raw materials, and strengthen the circular economy across Europe.
With the PPWR, packaging is no longer viewed solely as a physical object but increasingly as a dataset. Companies must ensure that relevant information about their packaging is complete, traceable, and digitally available.
At the same time, technical documentation, declarations of conformity, and structured data processes throughout the entire supply chain are becoming increasingly important. A reliable data foundation is therefore becoming a critical success factor for efficiently meeting the new requirements.
The PPWR significantly increases the requirements for packaging documentation. Companies must ensure that relevant packaging information is complete, traceable, and digitally available. This includes in particular:
Complete packaging data – such as dimensions, weight, and material composition
Packaging hierarchies – including primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging
Sustainability documentation – such as information on recyclability and material usage
Labeling requirements – for example regarding hazardous substances or special handling instructions
Digital data availability for authorities, business partners, and processes throughout the supply chain
In addition, the regulation contains numerous requirements relating to conformity, technical documentation, recyclability, recycled content, packaging minimization, as well as information and evidence obligations.
As a result, packaging data are becoming an important part of overall master data quality. Incomplete or inaccurate data can lead to additional effort, process delays, and difficulties in meeting compliance requirements.
The real challenge of the PPWR begins where packaging becomes data. Companies need more than information on weight, dimensions, or materials; they must also be able to collect, manage, and provide evidence for these data in a structured and reliable manner.
Particularly for businesses with large product portfolios, changing packaging units, or complex packaging hierarchies, the effort can increase rapidly. This makes a reliable data foundation more important than ever.
Incomplete or inaccurate information can create additional verification efforts, complicate compliance documentation, and negatively impact supply chain processes. Companies that establish the right foundations today will be able to meet future requirements more efficiently while sustainably improving the quality of their master data.
Many companies are currently asking not only what data they need, but also how this information should be documented in the future.
The PPWR introduces extensive documentation and verification requirements. However, it currently does not provide a standardized documentation framework that can be used uniformly by all companies. While the regulation defines requirements for technical documentation and declarations of conformity, the actual implementation remains company-specific and depends on factors such as the packaging used, operational processes, and applicable compliance obligations.
This makes structured and consistent data collection even more important in order to manage this information efficiently. Relevant data include packaging information, material details, packaging hierarchies, and supporting evidence.
Since the PPWR does not prescribe a standardized documentation template, companies should establish a company-wide standard for packaging data management. The objective should be to capture all relevant information completely, transparently, and in an audit-proof manner.
General Packaging Data should include details such as Item number, Item description, Packaging ID, Packaging type, Date of data collection, Responsible person or department.
Regarding Physical Master Data, the essential physical charcteristics of the packaging should be documtented, including: Length, Width, Height, Weight and Volume, where applicable.
Material information: Material related data should include Primary material, Additional materials used, Proportion of each material, Recycled content, where applicable, and Information on recyclability.
For PPWR requirements, the Packaging Hierarchy plays an important role. Companies should clearly document whether the packaging is: Primary packaging with direct product contact, Secondary packaging used as grouping or sales packaging or Tertiary packaging for transport and logistics purposes
It is also recommended to document additional PPWR-Relevant Characteristics such as Cushioning and void-fill materials, Outer packaging, Hazardous substance labeling, Special handling and storage instructions and Information on reusability or compostability, where relevant.
Supporting Documentation and Verification Records - Documentation should be complemented by supporting evidence and testing recors, indcluding Supplier and packaging manufacturer information, Material and recycling certificates, Certifications, Test reports, Revision and version history, Inspection and approval records.
The more structured this information is, the easier it will be to meet future documentation, reporting, and compliance requirements. At the same time, master data quality improves, which is also highly relevant for packaging planning, logistics, and shipping processes.
For many companies, the real challenge lies not in the packaging itself, but in capturing and documenting the required data.
This is exactly where the MultiScan provides support. Dimensions and weight are captured automatically, while users are guided step by step through the documentation process via the PackData Assistant WebApp. This includes PPWR-relevant information such as packaging hierarchies, cushioning materials, and packaging materials used.
The guided process reduces manual errors, saves time, and creates a reliable data foundation for future documentation and compliance requirements. One important note: The MultiScan does not automatically make a company PPWR-compliant. However, it is an ideal tool for the efficient collection, documentation, and management of the packaging data required to support compliance efforts.
The PPWR is not just a regulatory obligation. At the same time, it offers companies an opportunity to sustainably modernize their packaging and master data processes.
Accurate packaging data do more than support compliance documentation. They also create value across a variety of operational areas – from warehouse optimization and carton selection to shipping cost control and more resource-efficient material usage.
Companies that begin building structured packaging data today are creating an important foundation for future requirements while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of their operations.
With the PPWR, packaging data are becoming a central element of modern supply chains. From August 12, 2026, transparency, traceability, and digital availability of this information will be in greater focus than ever before.
Companies that invest early in a reliable data foundation will not only be better prepared for regulatory requirements but will also benefit from more efficient processes and higher data quality throughout the entire supply chain.
The MultiScan can be an important building block in this journey. It supports companies in collecting packaging data in a structured way and creates the foundation for digital, traceable, and future-proof documentation in line with PPWR requirements.
Ultimately, it is not just about meeting regulatory obligations – it is about turning data into real business value. Companies that establish the right foundations today will be better prepared for the requirements of tomorrow.
Sources:
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR), EUR-Lex (July 06,2026)
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO): Information on the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) (July 06, 2026)
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK): Information and Guidance on the PPWR (July 06, 2026)
Tanso: Technical Guidance on PPWR Technical Documentation and Declarations of Conformity (July 06, 2026)
