According to the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), from August 12, 2026, food contact packaging containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will be completely banned from circulation in the EU market, with three strict limit standards clearly defined: individual PFAS substances ≤ 25 ppb, total multiple PFAS ≤ 250 ppb, total polymeric PFAS ≤ 50 ppm, and products exceeding total fluorine limits must provide additional testing certification.
PFAS have been widely used in food packaging due to their water and oil resistance properties, but as “forever chemicals,” their environmental persistence and bioaccumulation increase health risks to humans. This ban is a core measure of the EU’s sustainable packaging roadmap, simultaneously requiring packaging to meet lifecycle management requirements such as reduction and recyclability.
Currently, the industry faces multiple challenges: the EU has not yet issued a unified PFAS testing method, and unintentionally added PFAS in recycled materials may cause companies to violate regulations passively. Therefore, the European Packaging and Environment Organization recommends phased implementation, prioritizing restrictions on intentionally added PFAS. Companies are accelerating transformation, with Mitsubishi Chemical and others having developed fluorine-free alternative technologies such as EVOH resin coatings, achieving better high-temperature resistance and oil resistance.
This ban will promote the global food packaging industry to upgrade towards fluorine-free and environmentally friendly solutions, while coordinating with the EU REACH regulation’s comprehensive restrictions on PFAS, building a full-chain risk prevention and control system, and supporting the achievement of climate neutrality goals.
Source: Food Packaging
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