Brussels, 30 March 2026
The Brewers of Europe welcomes the European Commission’s latest communication on the implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). While this step provides some helpful direction, brewers stress that it does not yet resolve several critical outstanding questions that are essential for businesses planning their transition.
Continued uncertainty around key provisions risks disrupting supply chains, disrupting current sustainable best practices, increasing costs for consumers and placing additional pressure on brewers, with potentially significant negative impacts, especially for small and medium sized enterprises.
“Brewers fully support the overall environmental goals of the packaging regulation. However, companies urgently need clarity on how certain rules will work in practice. Packaging transitions require significant investments in production and logistics systems. Clear guidance will help ensure the transition is efficient, avoids unnecessary costs and protects consumers and the environment,” said Julia Leferman, Secretary-General of The Brewers of Europe.
Significant concerns remain, particularly in areas where investment decisions must be made well ahead of the application of certain provisions. The current lack of clarity regarding the scope and practical application of specific rules creates uncertainty for businesses and risks leading to inefficient or premature investments that harm both business and the potential environmental benefits.
Plastic grouped packaging, often the best solution for safe, efficient transport and handling across the supply chain, together with reusable labelling provisions and the lack of clear criteria for exemptions from reuse targets, are key areas where greater clarity from the Commission is needed to preserve well-functioning reuse and DRS systems, avoid unintended market disruptions (such as the withdrawal of perfectly reusable crates), and provide companies with the certainty required to plan investments.
While the Commission’s communication is a step in the right direction, it does not fully address these remaining issues nor solve all remaining questions. Brewers therefore look forward to further updates, including more detailed guidance and expanded questions and answers in 2026, to provide the legal certainty and practical clarity needed for implementation.
The Brewers of Europe calls on the European Commission to provide clear, comprehensive and timely guidance to ensure a smooth, effective, sustainable and economically efficient transition to the new packaging rules.
Contact:
Bernadette Buess, bernadette.buess@brewersofeurope.eu, @brewersofeurope
About The Brewers of Europe:
Based in Brussels, The Brewers of Europe brings together national brewers’ associations and companies from 28 European countries to support the united interests of Europe’s 10,000+ breweries. Our vision is to ensure a competitive, responsible and sustainable European brewing sector, creating shared value across the entire value chain and enriching European culture.