PPWR Update Mandates 35 Percent Recycled PET Content for Supplement Bottles by 2030

The latest technical guidelines for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are now finalized. All plastic supplement packaging placed on the EU market must incorporate a minimum of 35 percent post-consumer recycled content by 2030, but procurement cycles mean brands must lock in supply chains now.

Supply Constraints and Cost Projections

Food-grade rPET is currently trading at a 30 percent premium over virgin resin. Expect this spread to widen as larger FMCG players move to secure European supply ahead of the 2030 deadline. If you are operating on thin margins, you need to secure multi-year contracts this quarter.

• Virgin PET currently sits at 1.15 EUR per kg.
• Food-grade rPET pellets have hit 1.55 EUR per kg in the North European market.
• Standard HDPE used for protein tubs is up 12 percent year-on-year due to limited recycling infrastructure.

Mandatory Labeling and Digital Product Passports

Under Article 11, every supplement bottle must feature a harmonized label indicating material composition to assist consumer sorting. By 2027, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) will become the standard for any brand selling in more than three EU member states.

• QR codes must link to a landing page detailing the percentage of recycled content.
• Labels must be removable or compatible with the recycling process to avoid penalties.
• Non-compliant brands face fines up to 4 percent of their annual EU turnover.

My advice is to stop buying virgin plastic shells for new product launches. The transition period is closing and the cost of retrofitting your supply chain in 2028 will be double what it is today.