Complete Guide to EU PPWR New Regulation | Jinguan (Longhai) Plastic Full Compliance Certification for HDPE/LDPE Materials

1. Preface

The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) (EU) 2025/40 has been officially released and will be fully enforced on August 12, 2026, replacing the nearly 30-year-old packaging directive 94/62/EC. The new regulation unifies the market access standards of all 27 EU member states and puts forward stricter mandatory requirements for hazardous substance restriction, environmental recycling and food contact safety of plastic packaging. It has become an essential compliance threshold for all plastic packaging products exported to the EU.

To help foreign trade customers avoid the risks of cargo detention, return and fines in EU export business and build a comprehensive global compliance system in advance, Jinguan (Longhai) Plastic has proactively completed pre-market compliance testing. We have obtained full certification for two mainstream packaging materials –HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) via three core authoritative tests, fully opening up compliance access for both EU and North American markets.

2. Full Popularization of EU PPWR Regulation (Must-Read for Export Enterprises)

2.1 What is PPWR?

PPWR stands for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40. As a top-level EU regulation that takes direct effect without the need for secondary legislation conversion by member states, it mandates 100% compliance for all packaging products circulating in the EU market. Featured by mandatory enforcement, unified standards and full regional coverage, PPWR is the core market access certificate for plastic packaging exports to the EU.

2.2 Four Core Regulatory Requirements of the New PPWR

(1) Strict Restriction on Hazardous Substances

The regulation strictly limits the content of four heavy metals including lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium, and controls harmful additives such as PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). Any packaging with excessive hazardous substances is prohibited from entering the EU market, ensuring packaging safety and environmental performance from the source.

Four Heavy Metals Testing

Controlled substances: Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Hexavalent Chromium (Cr⁶⁺)

Limit standard: Total content of the four substances ≤ 100mg/kg

PFAS Testing Requirements for Food Contact Packaging

Three mandatory indicators for food-contact plastic packaging:

① Single non-polymeric PFAS ≤ 25 ppb

② Sum of non-polymeric PFAS ≤ 250 ppb

③ Total fluorine content (including polymeric PFAS) ≤ 50 ppm

(2) Packaging Recyclability Grading System

The EU implements a three-level recyclability rating system (Grade A/B/C) with progressively upgraded recycling standards. Starting from 2030, all packaged products launched on the market must meet the minimum Grade C recyclability requirement. Enterprises are required to follow the Design for Recycling principle and eliminate unreasonable packaging structures that are difficult to sort and recycle.

(3) Mandatory Recycled Content Requirements

Phased PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) material proportion standards are specified for various plastic packaging products. The threshold will be gradually raised in 2030 and 2040, driving the green upgrading of the packaging industry.

(4) Over-packaging Control & Unified Labeling Standards

Clear regulations on packaging void ratio and layer limits are formulated to eliminate over-packaging waste. Meanwhile, unified EU packaging classification and recycling labeling standards are implemented to standardize the market.

3. Differences Between Three Core Tests (PPWR / EU Migration / FDA)

Many foreign trade customers tend to confuse the three major testing standards. Jinguan professionally sorts out their applicable scenarios and functions for your reference:

3.1 PPWR Test (Basic EU Packaging Market Access)

Implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2025/40, focusing on the detection of heavy metals and restricted hazardous substances in packaging materials. It is the fundamental compliance threshold for all plastic packaging exported to the EU, satisfying EU environmental access, customs clearance and market supervision requirements.

3.2 EU Food Contact Migration Test (EU Food Safety Access)

Complying with EU food contact material standards, this test simulates contact scenarios with grease, alcohol, sauce and other food types to detect chemical migration from packaging materials. It is a mandatory qualification for food-grade plastic packaging sold in the EU market.

3.3 FDA Test (US Food Contact Market Access)

In accordance with the US 21 CFR food contact regulations, this test applies to North American markets including the United States and Canada. It verifies material safety performance and serves as the core compliance certificate for plastic packaging exports to North America.

Market Application Summary

✅ EU Export: PPWR Test + EU Migration Test (Dual Mandatory)

✅ North America Export: FDA Food Contact Test

✅ Global Export for EU & North America: Full coverage of three tests, one material for dual markets

4. Jinguan (Longhai) Plastic Official Compliance Certification Results

To meet the diversified export demands of global customers, we have completed third-party authoritative testing for our two most widely used plastic packaging substrates: HDPE and LDPE. All three core tests have been successfully passed, with complete, authentic and traceable compliance qualifications.

Certified Test Items

1. PPWR (EU 2025/40) Hazardous Substance Test

2. EU Food Contact Material Migration Test

3. FDA US Food Contact Material Safety Test

5. Core Values of Our Compliance Qualifications for Partners

5.1 Reduce Customer Costs & Shorten Lead Time

Customers adopting our HDPE and LDPE packaging do not need to pay for additional testing. Our full set of official compliance reports can be directly adopted, effectively reducing testing costs and shortening order delivery cycles.

5.2 Avoid EU Export Trade Risks

We have fully adapted to the 2026 PPWR mandatory new regulations in advance, completely avoiding trade risks such as customs detention, cargo return and administrative fines, and ensuring stable order shipment.

5.3 Dual Market Compatibility for EU & North America

A single substrate supports both EU and North American compliance standards, enabling customers to flexibly switch orders for different markets and expand global sales channels.

5.4 Real-Time Regulation Update Tracking

Our professional compliance team continuously tracks the latest revisions of PPWR clauses, recyclability standards and recycled material policies, and synchronizes updated compliance information to all partners in a timely manner, providing long-term technical support.

6. Conclusion

Global packaging industry is moving toward full compliance and green development, and compliance capability has become the core competitiveness of packaging manufacturers. Adhering to the principle of Compliance First, Quality Oriented, Jinguan (Longhai) Plastic continuously improves our material certification system and focuses on the R&D and production of high-end food-grade and export-grade plastic packaging.

In the future, we will continue to upgrade compliance qualifications and optimize product performance, providing global foreign trade partners with safer, more compliant and cost-effective packaging products and one-stop compliance solutions, supporting customers to explore and stabilize global markets.

Business Inquiry: Please feel free to contact our sales team if you need complete test reports, customized export-grade plastic packaging or professional PPWR compliance consultation.

Contact Information

Ms. Julia Lin (For export)

Email: Julia.lin@jinguan-cn.com | Tel: +86 0596-6766587

Ms. Shuhua Zhong (For domestic)  |

Email: sales@jinguan-cn.com | Tel: +86 0596-6796258