EU Exempts Pallet Wrapping from Strict Reuse Rules
Policy Change Overview
The European Commission has adopted a delegated act removing the 100% reuse requirement for pallet wrapping films and straps under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This follows industry feedback and a feasibility study demonstrating that enforcing full reuse for these load-securing components would impose disproportionate costs and logistical challenges on businesses. The act was finalised on 25 February 2026 after a public consultation period running from December 2025 to January 2026.
What the PPWR Previously Required
The PPWR, which entered into force in February 2025, sets an overall 40% reuse target for transport and sales packaging — including pallets, crates and flexible packaging — by 1 January 2030. Beyond this, the legislation had included an aspirational 100% reuse target specifically for pallet wrapping films and straps when used within the same company or between linked companies in the same Member State. The new delegated act removes this stricter obligation for those two components.
Why the Exemption Was Granted
A Commission-commissioned study found that transitioning to reusable systems for pallet wrapping and straps — particularly in automated packaging environments — would require substantial investment in new equipment, system redesign and staff training. Industry associations had flagged these adaptation costs as a significant concern. The Commission concluded that granting the exemption better reflects the practical and financial realities of current logistics operations, while still keeping the broader 40% reuse target firmly in place.
Implications for Businesses and Logistics
The exemption relieves economic operators across the EU from the burden of achieving full reuse for these specific packaging components, allowing them to direct investment toward areas where reusable solutions are both technically viable and cost-effective. Firms must still meet the overarching 40% reuse target for transport packaging by 2030, meaning compliance efforts will need to be strategically allocated. While the change reduces complexity for logistics operators, environmental stakeholders have raised concerns that broad exemptions could undermine the ambition of EU reuse rules and contribute to ongoing plastic pollution.
Broader Context of EU Packaging Reform
The PPWR represents the most significant overhaul of EU packaging policy in decades, replacing previous directives with a harmonised framework targeting waste reduction, increased recycled content and improved recyclability across all Member States. In addition to reuse targets, the regulation mandates minimum recycled content in plastic packaging and full recyclability by 2030. Broader implementation of the PPWR begins in August 2026, with key sustainability milestones extending through to 2030. The pallet wrapping exemption illustrates the Commission’s ongoing effort to balance environmental ambition with commercial and operational feasibility as the regulation takes effect.