The Smithers press note stated, "PPWR is a regulation that has been upgraded from its previous iteration known as the PPWD, which was a directive under EU legislation."

This change means it becomes a binding legislative act that must be applied in its entirety across the EU. The proposed requirement will place greater responsibility on those placing packaging on the market, with the greatest impact expected to be on the foodservice and food and drinks industries.

Smithers’ white paper covers the key differences between PPWR and PPWD, why the PPWR has been proposed, what EPR is and how it impacts businesses, key challenges for each industry sector, benefits for consumers and initial industry reactions.

As the Smithers official said, "Packaging is an exciting and growing market, but to remain successful converters and brand owners need to navigate the complex regulatory landscape - particularly when it comes to sustainability, waste and recycling."

The official said, "The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will result in seismic changes for anyone working in or serving the packaging industry. Fully understanding the impact of PPWR on your business and planning for these changes is an enormous undertaking."