Europe’s soft drinks industry is calling for urgent regulatory clarity as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) moves closer to application on 12 August 2026. According to UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, businesses remain uncertain about several core compliance requirements just five months before the law takes effect, creating growing concern across beverage packaging supply chains.

The sector says it supports the EU’s ambition to accelerate circularity and improve the environmental performance of packaging. Over recent years, beverage producers have invested heavily in recyclable formats, deposit return systems, recycled content and reuse models. UNESDA notes that its corporate members have already reached, or are close to reaching, 100% recyclability targets for their packaging. It also points out that 16 EU countries already operate a Deposit Return System, with more expected to follow as infrastructure expands. In addition, the sector says 51.7% of the PET used in plastic bottles in 2024 was recycled PET, already exceeding its 2025 target and aligning with mandatory EU single-use plastics objectives.

Despite that progress, the association argues that implementation of the PPWR is now becoming an operational risk. Companies need certainty to plan investments, redesign packaging, secure material supply and adapt production lines. Without timely guidance, businesses risk delays, extra costs and reduced competitiveness. UNESDA warns that legal notices alone may not be enough to resolve the practical questions that still surround the regulation.

Three areas are seen as particularly urgent. The first is the PFAS ban. While the European Commission is expected to take a pragmatic approach, the industry says there is still no harmonised EU methodology for PFAS in food-contact packaging. If Member States apply different interpretations, companies could face fragmentation across the Single Market, complicating compliance and cross-border trade.

The second issue is single-use plastic grouped packaging. Guidance is not expected before 2027, yet the relevant PPWR deadline is 2030. UNESDA argues this leaves too little time for companies to adapt. It says businesses need to know which packaging types will remain permitted and which will be banned in order to plan investments properly. The cost of transition could be substantial, with estimates suggesting that changes for the soft drinks sector alone may exceed €2 billion.

The third major concern is reuse. Beverage companies recognise that reusable systems can help reduce packaging waste, but they argue that the exemption framework still lacks practical clarity. Some Member States have already made major gains through high-performing collection and recycling systems, and the sector wants these achievements to be properly reflected when national exemptions are assessed. With 2030 targets approaching, delayed decisions could undermine investment planning.

For the packaging industry, the debate highlights a wider issue: regulation alone does not deliver circularity unless it is backed by clear, workable implementation rules. Packaging producers, converters, brand owners and retailers need predictable guidance to make technical changes on time and at scale. In the case of beverage packaging, those decisions affect everything from material selection and grouped transport packs to collection systems and reuse infrastructure.

UNESDA’s warning adds to the pressure on EU institutions to move faster. As the countdown to August continues, the message from the sector is that the transition to circular packaging can only succeed if businesses are given the clarity needed to act with confidence.