The Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) examined the role of data management in meeting the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) during the third webinar in its State of Industry series.
Pia Buchmayr, packaging data specialist, outlined how companies can manage and track packaging data to meet EU and future Australian regulations. She explained that businesses need to know what their packaging is made of, where it comes from, and how recyclable it is. “Every part of packaging from labels, caps, to bottles, affects recyclability,” she said, adding that using recycled or local materials can provide both economic and environmental benefits.
Buchmayr said the regulation sets high expectations for transparency and traceability of packaging data across the value chain. Companies will need structured systems to collect and manage information required for compliance, including the declaration of conformity needed to place packaging on the EU market.
“Structured packaging data management is becoming increasingly important. Companies need to provide detailed information for each type of packaging,” Buchmayr said.
The declaration of conformity is required for market access and must demonstrate compliance with Articles 5 to 12 of the PPWR. Companies will need to collect detailed information on packaging components and materials, much of it related to recyclability. Examples include packaging dimensions and types, printing coverage, flexibility or rigidity, adhesives and separation conditions, as well as material layers, colours, density and mass.
Buchmayr advised companies to start by reviewing their packaging portfolios and assessing the availability of relevant data. “Try to make a product proof screening of your packaging portfolio, categorise products according to PPWR and record your data availability,” she said.
Packaging data is often spread across multiple systems, including enterprise resource planning and product lifecycle management systems, as well as shared folders containing spreadsheets, documents and PDFs. In some cases, specifications are exchanged through emails or phone calls, creating the potential for inconsistencies.
The webinar talked about the number of stakeholders involved in packaging data management across the supply chain, including material suppliers, packaging manufacturers, brand owners and retailers. Buchmayr used the example of a yoghurt cup to show how data must be collected for each component and material layer before the packaging is assembled and supplied to a consumer goods producer.
“The data situation becomes even more complex when transport packaging, such as a carton and pallet, is added. It’s important to think from A to Z in data provision,” Buchmayr said.
The presentation also noted the absence of a single harmonised packaging data standard in the EU. Although several standards exist, companies are encouraged to begin standardising internal data structures to improve data exchange across the supply chain.
The Packaging Cockpit tool, developed by Circular Analytics and MCP Algorithm Factory, was presented as one option for managing packaging specifications and analysing recyclability, lifecycle impacts and packaging-related costs. Buchmayr described it as a “modular tool that helps companies ensure compliance and provides regulatory support for packaging.”
Discussion following the presentation also addressed broader regulatory trends, including the role of packaging data in extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems being developed in Australia. One speaker said companies will need to understand the composition and origin of their packaging to meet future regulatory obligations.
“You’re not going to be able to be responsible for your packaging if you don’t know what your packaging is, you don’t know where it’s coming from,” the speaker said.
The session also referred to recycled content requirements under the PPWR. Article 7 sets minimum recycled content targets for plastic packaging, with a 30 per cent minimum proposed by 2030. Participants noted that similar requirements may emerge in Australia and New Zealand as EPR frameworks develop.
The webinar highlighted the impact packaging components can have on recyclability, with labels, caps and closures potentially reducing recycling performance depending on the materials used.
Buchmayr concluded with practical steps for compliance, “Digitise your data management, use a PPWR-near data standard, and organise workshops to optimise your packaging data.”
The session forms part of the AIP’s webinar series examining the implications of the PPWR for packaging businesses operating in global markets.
Reports on the previous two webinars in this series are available: the first webinar focused on the regulation’s objectives, waste reduction targets, recyclability, reusability and labelling; the second webinar examined compliance requirements for companies importing packaging into the EU.
