Brussels, 3 November 2026 – European Bioplastics welcomes the approval by the National Members of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) of four Technical Specifications addressing the Design for Recycling of packaging made of biodegradable plastics. The specifications support the implementation of Article 6 of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and are expected to be published by CEN in December 2026. They will also inform the European Commission’s ongoing work on the relevant PPWR delegated acts.
European Bioplastics welcomes a significant step forward for packaging made of biodegradable plastics under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
Dedicated guidance developed in record time
Immediately after the publication of the PPWR in the Official Journal of the European Union, and recognising the need to address the specific characteristics of packaging made of biodegradable plastics, European Bioplastics called for the establishment of a dedicated subgroup within CEN/TC 261/WG 10, the working group responsible for Design for Recycling of plastic packaging products.
The subgroup brought together the expertise needed to develop technical guidance tailored to both rigid and flexible packaging made from biodegradable plastics. With substantial contributions from European Bioplastics, acting as a CEN/TC 261 Liaison Organisation, four Technical Specifications were developed and have now received approval from CEN’s National Members (representing national standardisation bodies of 34 European countries).
The final specifications (still to be published) are:
- CEN/TS 18382 – Packaging – Design for recycling for plastic packaging products – Guideline for design for recycling of rigid packaging made of biodegradable plastics
- CEN/TS 18383 – Packaging – Design for recycling for plastic packaging products – Guideline for design for recycling of flexible packaging made of biodegradable plastics
- CEN/TS 18395 – Packaging – Design for recycling for plastic packaging products – Recyclability evaluation process for rigid packaging made of biodegradable plastics
- CEN/TS 18396 – Packaging – Design for recycling for plastic packaging products – Recyclability evaluation process for flexible packaging made of biodegradable plastics
The documents will be published once the final formatting process has been completed within CEN.
Supporting the implementation of the PPWR
The new Technical Specifications provide dedicated guidance on the design for material recycling and related evaluation protocols for packaging made of biodegradable plastics. They specifically address material recycling and do not cover organic recycling, for which separate standards and approaches apply.
In this context, the specifications provide technical guidance relevant to Category 19 of Table 1 of Annex II to the PPWR, “Packaging made of biodegradable plastics”, supporting the development of the Design for Recycling framework foreseen under Article 6.
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) closely followed the preparation of these technical specifications. Finalised in line with the JRC’s timeline, they will provide valuable technical input to the development of the PPWR Delegated Act on Design for Recycling, scheduled for adoption by 1 January 2028.
European Bioplastics welcomes this achievement, which demonstrates the value of constructive collaboration within the European standardisation system and the importance of industry expertise in developing technically sound guidance. Reaching this milestone within a relatively short timeframe provides an important foundation for the next stage of PPWR implementation.
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