The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is now applicable, marking an important shift in how companies need to manage packaging data and documentation.
From 12 August 2026, the PPWR generally applies across the EU. The regulation replaces the previous Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive with a harmonized framework covering packaging throughout its life cycle.
But compliance is not only about understanding the regulation. It is about being able to document what your packaging is made of, support that information with evidence, and have the right documentation to prove your packaging is safe.
From packaging data to documented evidence
For many companies, packaging information still lives across spreadsheets, supplier emails, PDFs and different internal systems.
With PPWR in the mix, that approach becomes difficult to manage.
Companies need a reliable overview of their packaging, including information about packaging types, materials and relevant technical documentation. Depending on the applicable requirements, documentation can include technical specifications, Declarations of Conformity and test reports supporting compliance with limits for substances of concern.
The challenge is therefore not simply collecting more information. It is creating a structured process where packaging data and the evidence supporting it can be connected.
Three principles for getting PPWR-ready
1. One source of truth
Packaging information is often spread across suppliers, product teams, quality departments and compliance functions.
Bringing packaging data and documentation into one structured workflow makes it easier to understand what information exists, what is missing and which records have been approved.
Instead of relying on scattered spreadsheets, PDFs and emails, teams can work from one verified record.
2. Evidence, not assumptions
Knowing that a product uses cardboard, plastic or another material is not necessarily enough.
The underlying data needs to be reliable.
One way of strengthening packaging data is to collect material information directly during supplier inspections. Suppliers can report the weight of individual packaging components and document the measurement with photos or videos of the component on a scale.
This creates a clearer link between the information entered into a system and the evidence behind it.
3. Documentation that is ready when you need it
Packaging compliance also involves documentation.
Technical documentation, Declarations of Conformity and relevant test reports need to be collected, reviewed, and retained so they can be made available when required. The PPWR includes recordkeeping requirements of five years for single-use packaging and ten years for reusable packaging in the cases described in the regulation.
A structured document workflow makes it easier to see which documentation has been received, which is still missing, and which has been approved.
A practical PPWR workflow
At Qarma, we see PPWR compliance as a workflow connecting verified packaging data with compliance documentation.
A typical process can look like this:
1. Request
Add a packaging checklist or independent inspection to a supplier order.
2. Verify
The supplier reports material types and weights, supported by photo or video evidence.
3. Document
The supplier uploads relevant Declarations of Conformity, test reports and technical documentation.
4. Approve and prove
Your team reviews and approves the documentation, keeping the information organized and ready for retrieval.
This connects Qarma’s Quality Module with Product Compliance, allowing companies to manage both the underlying packaging data and the documentation supporting it in one process.
How Qarma supports the process
In Qarma’s Quality Module, companies can build packaging inspection tables at packaging-component or SKU level. Teams can record material types and weights, group packaging by function, and calculate overall packaging volumes based on the number of units.
At the same time, Qarma Product Compliance can be used to request, collect, store, and track documentation such as Declarations of Conformity, technical documents, and test reports. Suppliers can upload documentation directly, while internal teams review and approve it centrally.
Together, this creates a foundation for a more structured and audit-ready PPWR compliance process.
Note: Qarma provides the verified material-data and document-management foundation for a PPWR compliance process. Legal-role determination, EPR registration and fees, execution of conformity assessments and regulatory reporting remain the responsibility of your organisation and/or compliance advisors.
