The New EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR)

Effective August 12, 2026, the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will apply in all member states of the European Union. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 replaces the old directive and establishes comprehensive, harmonized requirements for all companies that place packaging on the market. The EU’s overarching goal is clear: to drastically reduce packaging waste, implement a true circular economy, and strictly exclude hazardous substances.

For us, the official effective date does not mean a change in our operations, but merely the formal confirmation of our existing quality standards. We have completed all legally required testing procedures and finalized the technical documentation without any gaps.

For you as a customer, this means maximum transparency and the assurance that your large-format photographic art is shipped in packaging that is legally compliant, free of harmful substances, and environmentally friendly.

What does the PPWR 2026 require of companies?

The new regulation places obligations on both retailers and manufacturers. Starting in August 2026, packaging may only be placed on the market if its compliance with the EU’s sustainability requirements has been mathematically and chemically verified. Key obligations include:

Material Minimization (Article 5): Strict compliance with heavy metal limits and the exclusion of problematic chemicals such as PFAS.

Recyclable Design (Article 6): Packaging must be designed so that it can be easily recycled within existing recycling streams.

Minimization of Empty Space (Article 9): The maximum proportion of unused empty space in shipping cartons is strictly limited (to prevent “deceptive packaging”).

EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC): Each type of packaging requires an official certificate as well as a technical background file, which must be archived for five years.

Our Packaging Concept

We have analyzed our entire product range and prepared a separate EU Declaration of Conformity for each component that surrounds your artwork during transport. Here’s how our secure transport chain is structured:

The product box (solid cardboard – PAP 21): We use a custom-made folding box made of pure, single-material paper right next to the artwork. Free of harmful substances: The box is certified to be printed with mineral oil-free inks (MOSH/MOAH-free). Recycling: It can be disposed of directly in the paper recycling bin without being separated.

Edge protection (PE-LD foam – PE-LD 04): To protect the delicate corners of the acrylic glass and aluminum Dibond pictures from impacts, we use flexible U-shaped foam profiles. Future-proof: According to the official manufacturer’s declaration from NMC SA, the material is guaranteed to be free of plasticizers (phthalates), PVC, and environmentally harmful PFAS compounds. Circular economy: The profiles contain at least 30% recycled material and belong in the yellow bag or yellow bin.

The Shipping Box: Modular Corrugated Cardboard to Eliminate Unnecessary Empty Space (PAP 20): The outer shipping box protects the package during transit. While the new PPWR, effective August 2026, imposes strict rules against “deceptive packaging” and unnecessary filler material, we’re taking it a step further: 0% empty space thanks to a perfect fit - our shipping boxes are custom-made to the exact flat dimensions of each wall art piece. This means there is literally no empty space at all when shipping individual items. 

Transparency for Customers, Companies, and Regulatory Authorities

Each of these three components is backed by technical documentation that we have reviewed. Because transparency is important to us and we take the information requirements of the new regulation seriously, we have made the official documents available for review by regulatory authorities and interested customers.

You can find the complete declarations of conformity in German and English in the Download section, as well as detailed disposal instructions compiled on our recycling information page.

AI transparency notice: This text was created with the support of AI.