Note on the PPWR: the EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will introduce one harmonised packaging label for all EU countries. Its design and detailed requirements have not been published yet. Once they are, we will update this article.
Important: this article gives general information as a starting point and is not legal advice. It reflects our current understanding and is subject to change.
Quick summary
Most EU countries do not require any special label on packaging. Only France, Italy and Spain require a sorting label, and Italy, Bulgaria and Malta require material codes. In addition, since 12 August 2026 the PPWR requires all packaging sold in the EU to identify its manufacturer.
What to print, by country
| Country | What to print on the packaging |
|---|---|
| France | Triman logo + Info-tri sorting information. Get the official files from CITEO or Adelphe. |
| Italy | Material code on every part + bin wording in Italian. A QR code or website link is also accepted. |
| Spain | Which bin each part goes in, in Spanish (consumer packaging only). |
| Bulgaria | Material code on every part. |
| Malta | Material code on every part. |
| Portugal | Which bin each part goes in, on the packaging or in the product instructions. |
| Other 21 EU countries | Nothing extra (but see the manufacturer identification below, which applies everywhere). |
A material code shows what each part is made of, for example PAP 20 for a cardboard box or LDPE 4 for a plastic bag. The full list is further down this article.
Required in every EU country: manufacturer identification (PPWR)
Since 12 August 2026, packaging placed on the EU market must carry:
- a type, batch or serial number (or another identifier), and
- the manufacturer's name or brand, a postal address and an electronic contact (for example an email address or website).
If the packaging is too small, this information can be given in a QR code or in a document that comes with the product.
Checklist
- List every part the customer receives: box, bag, filler and inserts.
- Print the manufacturer identification (name or brand, postal address, contact details and a batch or type number) on the packaging.
- Print the material code on each part.
- Selling to France: print the official Triman and Info-tri artwork on the packaging. Register with CITEO or Adelphe to get the files.
- Selling to Italy or Spain: add the bin wording in Italian and Spanish.
- Selling drinks in bottles or cans: check that country's deposit return scheme and its logo first.
- Do not print the Green Dot or other recycling-scheme logos. From 12 February 2027 these may only be shown digitally (for example via a QR code).
- Do not use claims such as "environmentally friendly".
Example: a shipping box with a plastic bag inside
[Insert sample label image here]
| Part | Material code | Italy | Spain | Portugal (optional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shipping box (corrugated cardboard) | PAP 20 | Raccolta carta | Contenedor azul | Ecoponto azul |
| Inner bag (LDPE plastic) | LDPE 4 | Raccolta plastica | Contenedor amarillo | Ecoponto amarelo |
For Italy, also add "Verifica le disposizioni del tuo Comune" (check your local council's rules). For France, add the official Triman + Info-tri artwork covering both parts. Change the codes and bin names to match your own materials; for glass, for example, use "Raccolta vetro", "Contenedor verde" and "Ecoponto verde".
Material codes (Decision 97/129/EC)
Use only these codes (for example, not "PETE" or "PE-LD"). The usual format is the number inside a recycling triangle with the abbreviation below it, or simply the code written out, such as "PAP 20".
| Material | Codes |
|---|---|
| Plastics | PET 1, HDPE 2, PVC 3, LDPE 4, PP 5, PS 6, others 7 |
| Paper and board | PAP 20 corrugated board, PAP 21 non-corrugated board, PAP 22 paper |
| Metals | FE 40 steel, ALU 41 aluminium |
| Wood | FOR 50 wood, FOR 51 cork |
| Textiles | TEX 60 cotton, TEX 61 jute |
| Glass | GL 70 colourless, GL 71 green, GL 72 amber |
| Composites (C/ + main material) | 80 paper/misc. metals, 81 paper/plastic, 82 paper/aluminium, 83 paper/tinplate, 84 paper/plastic/aluminium, 85 paper/plastic/aluminium/tinplate, 90 plastic/aluminium, 91 plastic/tinplate, 92 plastic/misc. metals, 95 glass/plastic, 96 glass/aluminium, 97 glass/tinplate, 98 glass/misc. metals |
Example composite: a paper mailer laminated with plastic is C/PAP 81.
What's changing
- 12 August 2026 (in force): manufacturer identification on all packaging (see above).
- 12 February 2027: the Green Dot and other recycling-scheme logos may only be shown digitally, not printed on packaging.
- 12 August 2028 at the earliest: one EU-wide material label replaces national sorting labels such as France's Triman and Info-tri. The material codes in this article also stop being used from this date. Packaging made before the new label applies can still be sold for 3 years.
Need help?
If you have questions about packaging labelling or EPR for your store, contact us at support@easproject.com.
Sources and further reading
- Decision 97/129/EC: packaging material identification codes (EUR-Lex)
- Adelphe Info-tri guide for France (in French)
- CONAI environmental labelling guidelines for Italy
- MITECO note on packaging marking for Spain (in Spanish)
- APA Circular 05/2026 on packaging marking for Portugal (in Portuguese)
This article is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements can change and can vary by EU member state.