Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IMLReady for PPWR? Fraunhofer CCPE compact highlights packaging design along the entire value chain
The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) is increasing the need for action among companies along the entire value chain. In the online seminar “Ready for PPWR? Packaging design for the whole value chain” on April 15, 2026, Fraunhofer CCPE, together with partners from research and industry, will present concrete solutions – from regulatory requirements and sustainable optimization to the use of recycled materials in food packaging.
With the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the EU is tightening the requirements for recyclability, use of recycled materials, and recyclability of packaging. This sets the framework for the entire value chain—from material manufacturers to brand owners to recyclers. Lina Wimmer, Senior Consultant Circularity at Circular Analytics TK GmbH, explains the specific requirements that companies now have to take into account in an online seminar. She shows how regulatory obligations can be translated into strategic packaging decisions at an early stage.
Design: Combining function and sustainability
In packaging development, the focus is on how ecological requirements can be combined with functional performance. Dr. Anna Kerps from the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT emphasizes that packaging must be evaluated on a differentiated basis: for most foods, packaging accounts for only around three to three and a half percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Product protection and efficiency in the supply chain are the main factors determining the environmental balance.
Fraunhofer CCPE therefore uses integrated assessment approaches that combine shelf life simulation, transport tests, and life cycle assessments. This provides a sound basis for decision-making on packaging design that takes ecological and functional requirements into account along the entire chain.
Logistics: Implementation in the supply chain
The requirements of the PPWR do not end with design. In packaging logistics, new material concepts, recyclability, and data transparency must be implemented in practice. Alia Suraya Khaddour and Lukas Lehmann from the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML show how digital solutions can help to systematically analyze packaging systems and identify optimization potential along the supply chain.
Recycling and use of recyclates: Closing cycles
Recycling is at the end of the value chain – and at the same time a new beginning. Dr. Frank Welle from the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV points out that the use of recyclates in direct contact with food poses high demands. Approval requires close coordination between the input material, the recycling process, and the specific application.
Steffen Kluepfel, Director of Sustainability – International Markets, Coca-Cola GmbH, takes up this perspective from an industrial point of view. He presents the feasibility assessment of mechanically recycled LDPE (low-density polyethylene) for applications involving food contact, highlighting process steps, material properties, and the impact on future packaging and supply chain structures.
Dialogue for an integrated value chain
The online seminar on April 15, 2026 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Uwe Clausen, member of the Board of Management of Fraunhofer CCPE and director of Fraunhofer IML, and will conclude with a panel discussion. The aim is to bring together perspectives from all stages of the value chain and discuss practical solutions for a PPWR-compliant packaging system.
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