New EU Packaging Rules: What the Book Industry Needs to Know
A significant new European regulation is about to become applicable—and it has implications for book industry organizations well beyond the EU.
The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force in February 2025 and generally applies beginning August 12, 2026. Covering all packaging regardless of material or origin, the regulation establishes requirements spanning the packaging lifecycle, from design and manufacturing through waste management. Among its longer-term goals is making all packaging on the EU market recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030.
For the book industry, packaging can include everything from shrink wrap and cartons to pallets, pallet wrap, and e-commerce packaging.
Our U.K. counterpart, Book Industry Communication (BIC), has published a new BIC Bite: EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) offering a concise, practical introduction to what the regulation means for the book supply chain and the steps organizations should be considering now.
Why BISG is Paying Attention
PPWR was a topic of discussion at BISG’s recent Sustainability Working Group meeting. The conversation quickly expanded beyond the regulation itself to a broader concern: How can the U.S. book industry become better at anticipating regulatory developments in other markets before they become urgent operational issues?
PPWR demonstrates just how interconnected the global book supply chain has become. BIC notes that organizations may have responsibilities even if they do not directly place goods on the EU market. Printers, publishers, distributors, warehouses, and booksellers may all need to gather or exchange information about the packaging moving through their supply chains.
Among the immediate areas BIC recommends organizations examine are 1) their role under PPWR, 2) the technical documentation available from packaging suppliers, and 3) requirements surrounding the Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
But for BISG, there is a larger takeaway: we need to move from reacting to regulatory change to anticipating it.
Environmental requirements, trade policies, accessibility rules, and other regulatory developments increasingly cross borders and industry segments. BISG’s committees, working groups, members, and international partners can help identify what is coming and give the industry more time to understand—and prepare for—the implications.
BIC’s new PPWR resource is an excellent starting point. It is also the first guidance from BIC’s ongoing PPWR Fast-Track Project, with additional information expected as implementation progresses.
Read the BIC Bite: EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
For additional background and official implementation resources, visit the European Commission’s Packaging Waste resource.
Under the oversight of BISG’s Supply Chain Committee, the Sustainability Working Group helps the U.S. book industry understand and respond to evolving sustainability challenges. By sharing practical resources and best practices—and connecting U.S. organizations with international efforts—the group helps the industry anticipate emerging requirements and strengthen supply-chain resilience.
Participation is open to BISG members and nonmembers across the book publishing ecosystem. The group meets for one hour every other month and offers opportunities to contribute to discussions, resources, and programming.
Interested in joining? Email info@bisg.org to receive meeting invitations and updates.