Time is running: What the New Packaging Law Implementation Act Really Changes

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment has published the draft of a new Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG). The reform aims to comprehensively modernize the existing Packaging Act and fully align it with the requirements of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The main objectives are to significantly reduce packaging waste, expand high-quality recycling, and enforce producer responsibility more effectively.

The draft legislation places greater emphasis on clear environmental standards. Planned measures include binding design requirements to ensure recyclability, higher material recycling targets, and expanded obligations for waste prevention across production, trade, and logistics. In the future, producers will also be more strongly involved in covering the actual disposal costs through modulated fees, meaning that packaging that is difficult to recycle would become financially less attractive.

Another key aspect of the reform concerns enforcement and transparency. The new law foresees digitalised verification and registration procedures intended to improve transparency and facilitate monitoring. Commercial distributors placing packaging on the market and waste management companies would require official authorization in order to prevent misuse. At the same time, municipalities and system operators will face higher requirements regarding data quality and documentation.

As part of the consultation process, a hearing was held in early December in which federal states, industry associations, and companies addressed several key issues. These included the practical feasibility of new design requirements, the structure of participation in collection systems, and the interfaces with the PPWR. The feedback gathered during this consultation will form an important basis for revising the draft before the cabinet submits the official government bill and the parliamentary procedure begins.

The timeline remains ambitious. The law is expected to be adopted in time for the start of the PPWR, whose core requirements will apply directly from August 2026.