Recyclable Is Not Recycled: A Technical Perspective on the Future of Packaging Under PPWR

Düsseldorf, Germany – November 2026

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is changing the way the packaging industry approaches material selection, packaging design and recyclability, but being technically recyclable does not automatically mean that packaging will actually be recycled. In a whitepaper, Mitsui Chemicals Europe explores the technical challenges and trade-offs shaping the future of packaging.

The introduction of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is bringing new attention to the entire packaging lifecycle. Recyclability, packaging minimisation, recycled content and reuse are becoming increasingly important considerations for packaging development and material selection.

However, translating regulatory requirements into practical packaging solutions is not straightforward. A material or packaging format may be technically recyclable, but actual recycling also depends on factors such as collection rates, sorting efficiency, recycling infrastructure and the economic viability of recovery processes.

In the whitepaper, “Recyclable Is Not Recycled”, Mitsui Chemicals Europe takes a closer look at these challenges from a technical materials perspective. It examines why packaging performance and recyclability need to be considered together – and why simplified assumptions about materials and structures can overlook important technical realities.

Looking beyond the visible material

Packaging is more than the material visible to the consumer. Its functionality often depends on the interaction of multiple components, including functional layers, coatings, adhesives and additives.

The whitepaper explores several key topics influencing packaging development under PPWR:

• Recyclability in practice: Why technical recyclability alone does not guarantee that packaging will enter an effective recycling loop.

• Packaging minimisation: Why reducing material weight must not compromise product protection, shelf life or transport stability.

• The complete packaging structure: How functional layers and material combinations influence both packaging performance and recyclability.

• Design decisions and sorting: Why seemingly small choices, such as pigments, labels or adhesives, can affect downstream sorting and recycling processes.

• Performance and cost trade-offs: How recyclability, material efficiency, product protection and future eco-modulated EPR costs need to be considered together.

   

The role of functional materials and technologies

A particular focus is placed on multilayer packaging structures and the technologies that help bring different material components together. Functional layers and adhesion technologies can be essential for ensuring the required barrier properties, structural integrity and processing performance.

This is where the Mitsui Chemicals Europe material expertise comes into play. Technologies such as ADMER™, a polyolefin-based adhesive resin used in multilayer applications, illustrate the important role that bonding and material compatibility can play in packaging design.

Rather than viewing recyclability and performance as separate objectives, the whitepaper highlights the importance of evaluating the complete packaging structure and its behaviour under real application and recycling conditions.

Five questions for future packaging development

The whitepaper concludes with five practical questions for packaging developers and decision-makers. They address topics such as requesting evidence of actual recycling performance, defining minimum performance requirements, assessing the complete material structure and considering downstream effects and potential EPR costs early in the development process.

Discover the full technical perspective in the whitepaper “Recyclable Is Not Recycled”.