PRESS RELEASE

Company / Study

Survey reveals gaps and opportunities for companies 

PPWR implementation falls short of self-assessment 

• Only one in ten companies meets the basic criteria of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
• Early action brings future security and competitive advantages
• Joint survey by Logistikbude, Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML and the Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM)

Almost half of companies overestimate their own level of implementation of the new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR). This is the conclusion of a joint survey conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, the software developer Logistikbude and the Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (SIM). However, the survey also emphasises the opportunities presented by the change: those who act early are not only future-proof, but can also gain a market advantage.

With the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Europe is realigning the rules for packaging. It will become binding in 2030 – with noticeable effects on transparency, reuse and traceability along the entire supply chain.

‘It affects not only manufacturers and retailers, but also has a direct impact on logistics. Verification, data quality and clear responsibilities are becoming indispensable,’ says Lukas Lehmann, co-editor of the survey and team leader for packaging logistics at Fraunhofer IML. 

The inventory reveals significant gaps. Only one in ten companies meets the basic requirements. At the same time, over 70 percent want concrete guidance, primarily in the form of comprehensible guidelines, personal advice and training. The greatest lever is knowledge: companies with a high level of knowledge achieve an average implementation rate of 59 percent, compared to 36 percent for those with little knowledge.  

Respondents cite the time required, uncertainty about feasibility and the expected costs as the biggest hurdles. Operationally, the involvement of business partners and insufficient data quality are slowing things down – these are also starting points for greater efficiency and innovation, for example through digital reusable strategies, robust data flows and modernised packaging processes. 

‘As long as there are no official guidelines, many companies are taking a wait-and-see approach. But this is precisely what causes valuable time to be lost. Companies should lay the groundwork now: clean data bases, clear responsibilities and transparency in their packaging portfolios. Those who tackle this early on will not only be able to comply with the PPWR, but also reap real benefits from it,’ says Lehmann. 

At FACHPACK, the European trade fair for packaging, technology and processes (23–25 September 2025, Nuremberg), visitors will have the opportunity to gather information and exchange ideas at the publishers' stands. Logistikbude and the Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg are also offering companies a self-assessment at their stands, where they can evaluate themselves and compare themselves with other companies. 

The ‘PPWR Stimmungsindex German Economy 2025’ is based on an anonymous online survey of 90 companies from the retail, manufacturing, logistics, packaging and pooling sectors (predominantly B2B). It combines self-assessment with verifiable criteria such as responsibilities, reliable data, documented measures and reusable plans. The survey provides a compact overview of the current state of knowledge, implementation status and support requirements, and shows how companies can gain momentum with a few targeted steps. Those looking to get started will find clear anchor points and practical guidance in the survey – practical and forward-looking.

Quote from Dr Philipp Hüning, co-founder and CEO of Logistikbude GmbH:

"At Logistikbude, we view the PPWR from an operational perspective: the requirements can only be implemented if companies have a reliable data basis for packaging, load carriers and reusable processes. It is precisely at this interface – data, transparency and digital control – that we contribute our logistics experience and demonstrate how software solutions can make regulatory requirements realistic and efficient to fulfil."

Quote from Jens Oldenburg, Managing Director of the Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg:

‘The PPWR combines the two important issues of strengthening the internal market and the Green Deal. Reusable systems in the B2B sector play a particularly central role in achieving these goals. It is also important to identify the necessary framework conditions in Germany and Europe and to participate in their implementation.’ 

About the survey: PPWR-Stimmungsindex Deutsche Wirtschaft 2025

Caption press photo: Fraunhofer IML