Do you remember ordering a USB stick and getting it in a shoebox, generously filled with plastic cushions? These times are ending. The European Union is introducing new rules for packaging that will fundamentally change how online stores send out goods. The main goal is to significantly reduce waste.
The new EU Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR) will start to apply from August 12, 2026, although the key and strictest requirements will come into effect from January 1, 2030. The changes will affect everyone who sells goods in the EU, and therefore, every customer in Slovakia.
Empty Space is Forbidden
The main change consumers will notice is the fight against too much empty air in packages. From 2030, the new law sets a clear requirement: the empty space in transport and e-commerce packaging cannot be more than 50% of its total volume.
What does this mean in practice?
End of big boxes for small items. Sellers will have to choose packaging that best fits the size of the product.
Fillers count as empty space. Air cushions, bubble wrap, paper fillers – all of this will be considered part of the empty space. This means you can no longer just fill a large box with paper to take up space.
This requirement will force online stores and logistics companies to completely rethink their packaging processes. They will need to have many more options of boxes in different sizes in their warehouses and implement systems to help packers choose the best option for each order.
What Else Will Change for Consumers
The PPWR regulation is not just about box sizes. It covers a much wider range of issues aimed at creating a circular economy and reducing environmental impact. Here are a few more important changes:
Ban on single-use plastic. From 2030, many types of single-use plastic packaging will be banned. For example, miniature shampoo and gel bottles in hotels, single-use cutlery in fast-food restaurants, and plastic packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables weighing up to 1.5 kg will disappear.
Recycling requirements. All packaging entering the EU market must be recyclable by 2030. And by 2035, it must be recycled on an industrial scale.
Mandatory recycled content. New plastic packaging will have to contain a certain percentage of recycled materials.
These steps are designed not only to reduce waste but also to stimulate the market for recycled materials and make logistics more efficient. Smaller packages mean more can fit into one truck, which in turn will reduce CO2 emissions.
When to Expect Changes and What to Prepare For
Although the first rules of the new regulation will start to apply from August 2026, businesses will have time to adapt. The main requirements, such as the 50% limit on empty space and the ban on certain types of plastic, will become mandatory from 2030.
For customers, these changes will primarily mean less waste after unpacking online orders. Instead of a mountain of paper and plastic, you will receive your item in a compact, optimally sized box. It is also possible that you will more often encounter reusable packaging options that can be returned to the seller.
Ultimately, the new EU rules are a big step towards more responsible consumption and business. And although for companies this means the need to invest in new processes and materials, for consumers and the planet as a whole, the result will be clearly positive.
