"Navigating the PPWR: Clarity and Implementation in a Circular Economy"

Event Description  

The members-only EFF event on 1 July as part of the EFF General Assembly will discuss the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The PPWR aims to minimise the quantities of packaging and waste generated while lowering the use of primary raw materials and fostering the transition to a circular, sustainable and competitive economy.

The first provisions of the PPWR will start to apply from 12 August 2026 and new packaging requirements will impact the European food value chain. The Commission published on 30 March 2026 a PPWR Guidance document and a Frequently Asked Questions document, but uncertainties and further need for guidance persist. With less than two months to go until the application of the first PPWR requirements, stakeholders across the value chain are reporting intense, unresolved implementation difficulties.

Before companies can pursue circularity, they need clarity about the legal text and its provisions. The event will feature a panel discussion with speakers from academia and the value chain to stimulate a deep-dive debate about key issues for which the food value chain requests more clarity. This event offers stakeholders an opportunity to share their views and engage with EU lawmakers and regulators. Such collaboration is essential for shaping the future of sustainability and compliance frameworks in Europe.

As with all European Food Forum initiatives, the discussion aims to foster constructive dialogue, bridge perspectives across the food value chain, and contribute to practical solutions that support both regulatory objectives and successful implementation.

Draft Agenda: 

Moderator: Hans van Bochove, Chair of the EUROPEN

13:30 - 13:35 | Opening remarks by EFF Chair, MEP Stefan Köhler

13:35 - 13:45 - Food Safety Study: Food safety risks of bring your own container in the HORECA sector related to the implementation of Art 32

• Prof. Eng. Giuseppe Vignali, Disciplinary Scientific Sector “Mechanical Industrial Systems” University of Parma

13:45 – 14h30 | Panel: PPWR Implementation Essentials – From Regulatory Requirements to Operational Reality 

• Alessandro Piccione, Manager, Environment & Circular Economy, FoodDrinkEurope

• Nick Dornheim, Senior Adviser, Sustainability & Environment, EuroCommerce

• Aurel Ciobanu, Director for Circular Economy, DG ENV, Directorate B

   

Q&A 

14:30 - 14:40 | Research Solutions and Clarity Needs for Circularity Transition

Existing research solutions and the need for clarity on direction that academia and research can support value chains in their circularity transition

• Hanne Nedergaard, Department of Food Science - Food Technology - Aarhus University

14:40 - 14:55 | Q&A with all the panelists

14:55 - 15:00 | Closing remarks by hosting MEPs

Presentations