The Swedish Forest Industries Federation welcomes the European Commission’s goal of reducing the amount of unnecessary packaging and increasing the opportunities for reuse and recycling by means of new legislation. In the context of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, it is crucial to ensure that products placed on the European market contribute towards the target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
PPWR
The PPWR is the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. As Holmen Wood Products largely transports its products in packaging, the new regulation applies to our operations.
What is the PPWR?
The first phase of the regulation entered into force on 12 August 2026. It focuses on three main areas:
- reducing packaging waste
- improving the recyclability of packaging
- increasing the use of recycled materials.
Certain types of unnecessary single-use packaging are also expected to be phased out.
Although various details are still being worked out at EU level, the overall direction of travel is clear: the packaging of the future needs to use fewer resources and work more efficiently in a circular system.
As with other EU legislation, the European Commission has issued the regulation, accompanied by a guidance document and other important documents.
These are all due to be implemented in Swedish legislation, with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as the responsible authority.
Q&A coming soon.
What we are doing to comply with the PPWR
- Holmen Wood Products has long worked to source packaging that is free from hazardous chemicals, and to reduce the use of packaging where possible.
- Alongside this, we are quality assuring our packaging products, and developing system support and data collection to facilitate the implementation of the PPWR. We will adapt to new requirements as the legislation is supplemented and developed over time.
- We have compiled a list of the sawmills’ packaging materials and suppliers, and the task of collecting data from our subcontractors has begun.
- We are working actively to ensure that we meet the requirements of the PPWR.
- We are following developments closely and updating our work on an ongoing basis.
The Swedish Forest Industries Federation on the PPWR
How is compliance with the PPWR verified?
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the competent Swedish authority that will check compliance with the provisions of the PPWR. The agency’s website provides support and information about the rules that follow from the regulation.