PPWR is coming. The cycle continues.

The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) fundamentally changes
the requirements for packaging, also in the cable, conductor,
and tube industry. In future, transport and industrial packaging
must be more comprehensively documented, and designed to be
recyclable, material-efficient, and suitable for the circular economy.
Hildebrandt supports you in identifying these requirements early on
and to develop future-proof packaging solutions.

Understanding the PPWR Our solutions

The solution lies in the circular economy.

The PPWR pursues a clear goal: less packaging waste, better recyclability, and more reuse. For companies, this means that packaging must be selected more deliberatly in the future, properly documented, and designed with greater focus on recyclability.

Goal

Reduce packaging waste, promote reuse, support the circular economy, and reduce resource consumption

Requirements

Material transparency, recyclability, packaging minimization, as well as evidence and documentation

Labeling

Harmonized labeling and EU-wide uniform standards are coming

Targets

Minimum recycled content, reusable quotas (40% starting in 2030, 70% starting in 2040), and recyclability will be measured against strict quotas in the future

Identifying Materials
and recycling them correctly

Each package carries material codes. We explain what the codes mean for our three main materials.

 

Steel - FE 40

Whether it’s materials for our steel drums or connecting and stabilizing elements for our wood and plywood drums - steel is infinitely recyclable without any loss of quality. The steel drums can be sent to commercial scrap recycling facilities and reprocessed into new, high-quality steel using, for example, through electric arc furnaces.

Wood - FOR 50

Whether solid wood or plywood: Our primary material comes from sustainable, responsible forestry (AI quality) and, can be reused, as a renewable resource, as a material or for energy. Disused drums are shredded and sent for further material processing. When the raw material truly reaches the end of its life, it is biodegradable.

Cardboard - PAP 21

The barrel for our plywood drums are already made from recycled paper, are recyclable through the paper recycling loop, and can be reused repeatedly in various applications.

We support you with the implementation - you stay on top of everything.

The PPWR is complex, involving material requirements, limit values, documentation and verification obligations, labeling requirements, role classification, and much more. We gladly support you with the implementation and take care of key parts of the process.

Documentation and Verification

Technical Documentation and Declaration of Conformity

We prepare Declarations of Conformity for all our products, in accordance with Annex VIII.

We also offer the creation and the maintenance of the technical documentation, in accordance with the requirements of the PPWR as well as making the documentation available to market surveillance authorities.

Our Products - Designed for tomorrow today

Recyclability and Reusable Systems

We incorporate “Design for Recycling” into all our products from the very beginning. All products that we manufacture are separable, sortable, and recyclable through established disposal channels.

With our reusable systems return & refund we even go one step further. As reusable systems, as defined by the PPWR, you conserve resources, ensure reliable handling, transport, and storage over many cycles, and reduce your administrative burden on multiple levels. Both systems have been in use for years and cover the entire drum return process, repair, and redelivery — managed digitally via our release reporting app.

The end, that is not one at all.

Reuse and circular economy are our top priorities. Even if a repair is no longer possible, the journey doesn’t end there: steel is melted down, wood is reprocessed, and hardboard is returned to the paper fiber cycle. The raw material is preserved, in an altered form. With virtually no loss; never truly gone.

Plastics are significantly more limited in this regard: With each cycle, they lose quality until, in the end, incineration is the only option left. That is another reason why the PPWR is becoming stricter in this area. Those who rely on wood or steel don’t have to worry about the future.

  • Who is subject to the PPWR, and how can I go about implementing it?

    If you manufacture packaging or place packaged products on the market, you should familiarize yourself with the requirements of the PPWR.
    It’s important to understand your company’s specific role, as this determines the different obligations and requirements that apply.
    ATTENTION: In practice, there are often overlapping roles with cumulative obligations.

  • What exactly is the PPWR?

    The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40) is the new EU packaging regulation. It will apply directly in all member states as of August 12, 2026 - unlike a directive, a regulation does not first need to be transposed into national law, instead it takes effect immediately. Its goal: to reduce packaging waste in the EU, to make recyclability verifiable by law, and to specifically strengthen the circular economy and reusable systems. For us and our customers, this means that cable drums made of wood, plywood, and steel must also comply with the new requirements - regardless of which EU country they are used in.

  • What is the difference between a manufacturer and a producer?

    The manufacturer determines the design of the packaging and has it manufactured under its own name or brand. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the packaging complies with the PPWR requirements. The producer is the party that first places the packaged products on the market of an EU member state. The producer is responsible for financing the subsequent disposal and must register accordingly.

  • Are your drums already PPWR-compliant?

    Yes, we incorporate “Design for Recycling” into all our products from the very beginning. Our products feature a modular design, making them separable by material, sortable, and recyclable. In addition, we ensure compliance with applicable labeling requirements and the documentation of relevant product data. We continuously adapt our processes to new developments and upcoming delegated acts. With our reusable systems, we also help you conserve resources, keep packaging in circulation, and meet the PPWR’s requirements for transport packaging.

  • How does the PPWR support the transition to a circular economy?

    The PPWR promotes the circular economy through measures such as minimum recycled content quotas, mandatory recyclability assessments, and binding reusable quotas for certain types of transport packaging (40% starting in 2030, 70% starting in 2040). Under the PPWR, only packaging that is integrated into an organized reuse system involving return, reconditioning, and re-deployment is considered “reusable.” Simple multi-use without such a system, does not count toward the reusable quota. Through return and refund, we already operate two types of these established systems.

Need support with PPWR?

Whether you need support with the declaration of conformity, reusable systems, or the preparation of technical documentation, we will be happy to assist you personally and individually.

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