The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is the most important and ground-breaking change for European e-commerce and the fulfillment industry in many decades. The regulations adopted by the European Parliament will enter into force in stages, but large logistics must prepare for these transformations today. What does the new, restrictive law say about standard fillers for courier parcels?
1. Minimization of "empty space" in the shipment (max 50% - from 2030)
Art. 24 of the PPWR Regulation introduces a maximum empty space ratio of 50% for collective, transport and e-commerce packaging. This requirement becomes fully applicable from January 1, 2030 (or 3 years from the publication of the Commission implementing acts, the methodology of which is to be developed by February 12, 2028). The regulation itself has been in force since August 12, 2026, and the principle of packaging minimization has been in force since that date.
Important: the indicator counts volume, not material. Both plastic cushions and paper filler count towards empty space the same. The 50% limit is therefore met primarily by selecting appropriately smaller boxes (right-sizing), and not by simply changing the filler. Where padding remains necessary, however, paper offers a real advantage when it comes to another PPWR requirement - recyclability (see below).
2. Full recycling in one seamless stream
The main, overarching goal of thePPWRregulation is to facilitate the sorting of waste by confused end consumers. Let's consider: if you send the customer goods in a high-quality cardboard box (cardboard), but you use plastic air bags (LDPE) as a filler and cover it with acrylic tape with strong glue - you force the final customer to manually and laboriously separate this waste. Paper goes into the blue bin and foil goes into the yellow one.
The transition to monomaterial packaging, i.e. the use of only certified paper fillers, means significant optimization: the customer simply throws the entire cardboard box into the waste paper container in one move. This type of 100% material-consistent packaging will ultimately be rewarded with much lower rates of Extended Producer Responsibility (ROP) fees.
3. Reducing single-use plastics (SUP)
Although thePPWRregulation does not ban every single polymer film from the very beginning, it very strongly and severely requires member states to drastically reduce the use ofsingle use plastics (SUP - Single Use Plastics) wherever "there are widely available market, pro-ecological technological alternatives". Crushed and shaped kraft wrapping paper, as well as the popular paper shavings, have proven their dominance for many years.
What should you do as a store owner today?
We advise you to conduct an internal warehouse audit. Calculate how many kilograms of plastic you use annually to secure courier boxes. Then consider selecting the right size of the boxes (right-sizing) and testthe paper shavings. Test the shavings on light and delicate products (e.g. small ceramics) and the cutters with strong 90g/m2 paper for heavy retail orders. By reacting well in advance, you will avoid complications when the full PPWR standards come into force.