PPWR — Plastic shrink film: banned or exempt?

This is the most-discussed grey area of the PPWR in 2026. The ban is clear in principle. The exemption for packaging needed for handling is not clear at all. No one knows for certain whether a six-pack of water bottles wrapped in plastic film falls under the restriction or under the exemption.

The Commission has promised a clarification in February 2027 — three years before the date of application. That timeframe can look comfortable until you realise that developing an alternative (cardboard, adhesive, clips, banding), qualifying it on the line, validating its mechanical performance and adapting the production equipment takes between 18 and 36 months. Waiting until 2027 to decide forces a rushed implementation.

In parallel, the Czech Republic has already submitted an informal paper to the Commission asking for an early clarification. The issue is therefore recognised as urgent at EU level. But the 2027 clarification remains a promise with no binding legal force, and there is nothing to guarantee it will not be delayed.