FlexForum 2026: Key Policy Shifts in Flexible Packaging

Join FlexForum to explore PPWR, EPR, and PCR trends shaping flexible packaging design and recyclability.

The regulatory environment for flexible packaging is shifting from voluntary goals to enforceable legal mandates. As governments across major markets advance circularity policies, they are also aligning packaging design with real-world recycling systems. As a result, manufacturers must adapt their material selection, structural design, and reporting practices to meet evolving compliance requirements.

You can also read: How Recyclability is Redefining Packaging Form and Function.

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

The EU’s proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) represents a major legislative shift for the plastics industry. Unlike previous directives, it is intended to apply uniformly across all member states, thereby reducing regulatory fragmentation and improving consistency in compliance.

A central feature is the introduction of Design for Recycling (DfR) criteria, supported by a recyclability grading system based on real-world performance. In other words, packaging is evaluated based on how it performs in existing collection, sorting, and recycling systems, rather than theoretical recyclability. As a result, packaging that fails to meet minimum thresholds will face increasing market restrictions over time. Consequently, this creates strong pressure to move away from complex multi-material laminates toward mono-material or system-compatible structures.

Mandatory Recycled Content and Food Safety

The PPWR also establishes targets for post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in plastic packaging, including certain food-contact applications. These requirements aim to stimulate demand for secondary materials while strengthening recycling markets.

However, increasing PCR content introduces both technical and regulatory challenges, particularly in food-contact applications. In the United States, substances that may migrate from packaging into food must comply with FDA requirements, including GRAS determinations or Food Contact Notifications. Similarly, in Europe, recycled materials must meet Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 and related safety evaluations.

As a result, not all recycled streams are suitable for high-value applications. Mechanical recycling remains the primary pathway, but its output depends heavily on feedstock quality and contamination control. Meanwhile, advanced recycling technologies may complement these systems, although questions remain regarding scalability, cost, and environmental performance.

The Rise of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Beyond Europe, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws are expanding across North America. These policies shift the financial burden of waste management to producers while introducing fee structures that penalize difficult-to-recycle packaging.

Consequently, flexible packaging producers face strong economic incentives to simplify material structures, eliminate incompatible components, and adopt mono-material PE and PP films. At the same time, EPR programs are expected to fund infrastructure improvements, particularly for processing flexible plastic waste streams.

Standardizing “Recyclable” Claims

Regulators are also tightening controls on environmental marketing claims, as concerns grow over misleading recyclability statements. For example, California’s SB 343 restricts the use of the “recyclable” label unless packaging meets specific criteria for collection and processing at scale.

This shift redefines recyclability as a system-level outcome rather than a material property. As a result, many multi-layer flexible formats risk losing their recyclable designation unless redesigned for compatibility with existing systems.

Join the Conversation at FlexForum

To navigate these complexities, industry leaders Dan Felton, Hodayah Finman, and Patrick Krieger will host a session at FlexForum. Taking place from May 4–6 in Fort Myers, this session explores EPR, recycled content, and microplastics, while also examining the evolving future of GRAS and new labeling requirements. These experts will provide practical insights to help businesses stay ahead of shifting regulations and compliance demands. Industry stakeholders are encouraged to attend and gain a clearer understanding of the policy forces shaping the future of flexible packaging.

Register here to secure your place at FlexForum.