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Science — Leatherhead Food Research — Technical Presentation (March 2026)
37 slides from Science's technical presentation, Mar 4, 2026
Slide 1: Global Packaging Waste Reform: Six Key Regulatory Trends
Global Packaging Waste Reform: Six Key Regulatory Trends Luke Murphy, Mariko Kubo, Mark Moss, Sue Bullock March 4, 2026 This document has been prepared solely for members of Leatherhead Food Research and may not, without permission, be disclosed to any third party. Author/s: Mariko Kubo, Mark Moss,
Slide 2: Leatherhead Food Research is part of Science Group & Sagentia
Leatherhead Food Research is part of Science Group & Sagentia Regulatory Consultancy services Systems businesses Leading provider of science-led advisory and product development services to medical, consumer, industrial Market leader in technologies for digital and and defence sectors, and internati
Slide 3: Membership
Membership Membership provides on-demand access to expertise, information and insight. It is the simplest way to do business with us. Expertise Insights Information On-demand support for Access to Member-only Stay abreast of industry regulatory and scientific content and area of the news and develop
Slide 4: https://sagentia.com/sg-login/
https://sagentia.com/sg-login/ 3 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 5: Packaging waste reform is both a key opportunity and a regulatory duty
Packaging waste reform is both a key opportunity and a regulatory duty 4 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 6: Global Packaging Waste Reform – Six Key Regulatory Trends
Global Packaging Waste Reform – Six Key Regulatory Trends 5 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 7: Global Packaging Waste Reform: Six Key Regulatory Trends
Global Packaging Waste Reform: Six Key Regulatory Trends 6 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 8: Trend 1: Reducing overall packaging volume
Trend 1: Reducing overall packaging volume 7 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 9: EU's PPWR: all packaging must be reduced to the minimum necessary volume and weight
EU’s PPWR: all packaging must be reduced to the minimum necessary volume and weight The PPWR introduces new obligations to minimise empty space within packaging. From February 2028, all companies responsible for packaged foods must ensure that any empty space is limited to the minimum required to ma
Slide 10: International standards for reducing overall packaging volume
International standards for reducing overall packaging volume China mandates void ratios for all South Korea enforces strict void California aims to reduce plastic primary, secondary and tertiary space ratios on primary and packaging weight by 25%, packaging secondary packaging optimizing packaging
Slide 11: Trend 2: Phasing out problematic packaging formats
Trend 2: Phasing out problematic packaging formats 10 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 12: EU: eliminating non-essential or hard-to-recycle formats
EU: eliminating non-essential or hard-to-recycle formats Under the PPWR, certain Fresh produce under single-use plastics will Hotel-sized miniatures 1.5 kg (subject to number of broad exemptions) be banned from 1 January e.g. plastic nets, bags, tubs e.g. small toiletry bottles 2030. Single-use cond
Slide 13: Internationally Chile is leading the way
Internationally Chile is leading the way For takeaway and delivery, sachets, mini-format containers, and other single-use packaging (e.g. ready-meal containers) may not be used unless the materials are certified compostable or are non-plastic. National rules still in consultation. Several states hav
Slide 14: Trend 3: Eliminating chemicals of concern in packaging
Trend 3: Eliminating chemicals of concern in packaging 13 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 15: EU policy pathway on PFAS, ODPs and hazardous substances
EU policy pathway on PFAS, ODPs and hazardous substances 2000s–2010s 2010–2018 2019 Early scientific concern Initial regulatory controls Single-Use Plastics Directive PPWR adopted PFAS identified as persistent EU begins restricting hazardous EU bans oxo-degradable Packaging and Packaging “forever ch
Slide 16: Global snapshot: PFAS and chemicals of concern in packaging
Global snapshot: PFAS and chemicals of concern in packaging China: Bans specific PFAS compounds (e.g. PFOS and 2000s–2010s 2019 2010–2018 related substances) across Canada: production, import and use. • PFAS listed as toxic; phase-based restriction under CEPA, with food packaging targeted in later p
Slide 17: Trend 4: Scaling up reuse and refill systems
Trend 4: Scaling up reuse and refill systems 16 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 18: Reusable vs Refillable packaging – what is the difference?
Reusable vs Refillable packaging – what is the difference? 17 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 19: EU Reuse and Refill Requirements under the PPWR
France’s move to EU Reuse and Refill Requirements under the standardised reuseable PPWR packaging The PPWR introduces mandatory reuse targets for designated packaging formats. All reusable packaging must be sufficiently durable to tolerate multiple use cycles without structural or France is currentl
Slide 20: Reuseable plastic bottle target remains the exception globally
Reuseable plastic bottle target remains the exception globally Chile Elsewhere • Large supermarkets must ensure • California SB 54: 10% reduction in that at least 30% of beverages single-use plastics, including a 4% sold are in returnable bottles, reuse and refill target including returnable plastic
Slide 21: Trend 5: Enhancing recyclability of packaging
Trend 5: Enhancing recyclability of packaging 20 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 22: EU PPWR recyclability requirements
EU PPWR recyclability requirements Amongst its many provisions the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) includes measures; • Requiring that all packaging must be designed to be recyclable, grade A-C, by 1 January 2030 • By 2038, only packaging with high recyclability grades (A-B) will
Slide 23: South Korea: four tier recyclability grading system
Certifications South Korea: four tier recyclability grading system Japan Voluntary PET bottle certification for mono material, uncoloured Difficult to bottles with at least 15 % recycled recycle or biobased content. Removable, Normal to PVC free labels required. Eligible Best to recycle recycle prod
Slide 24: North America mandates recyclability labelling with strict criteria
North America mandates recyclability labelling with strict criteria, moving away from vague symbols like chasing arrows 23 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 25: Trend 6: Mandating recycled plastic content
Trend 6: Mandating recycled plastic content 24 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 26: PPWR - New recycled content targets
PPWR - New recycled content targets The PPWR requires packaging to be “recyclable in an economically viable way” and meet the new minimum recycled content requirements for plastic packaging • 30% for contact-sensitive packaging made primarily from PET, excluding single-use plastic beverage bottles •
Slide 27: Mandated recycled plastic content: India leading rapid change
Mandated recycled plastic content: India leading rapid change with global pressure building India: Fast-rising regulatory requirements Minimum recycled content in India • Mandatory recycled-content thresholds introduced under the Plastic Waste 2025–26 2026–27 2027–2028 2028-2029 Management (Amendmen
Slide 28: PPWR – Key Requirements (from 12 Aug 2026)
PPWR – Key Requirements (from 12 Aug 2026) 12 August 2026 is the main “start date” of the PPWR • PFAS restrictions: food-contact packaging banned if PFAS exceed: 25 ppb single non-polymeric PFAS 250 ppb total non-polymeric PFAS 50 ppm total PFAS (incl. polymeric) • Heavy Metals: packaging cannot be
Slide 29: How to Deliver Packaging Compliance in the Real World
How to Deliver Packaging Compliance in the Real World 28 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 30: Building a Global Packaging Compliance Roadmap
Building a Global Packaging Compliance Roadmap Monitor Regulations, standards Comply & systems Align strategy, manage Prepare risk & opportunity Audit packaging compliance & evaluate options 29 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 31: What your Packaging Compliance Program Must Include
What your Packaging Compliance Program Must Include Regulatory scope Design for recycling Material composition Recycled content Labelling and and applicability and recyclability and hazardous and compostability traceability substances Audit process & Waste minimisation Supplier Extended Producer con
Slide 32: What your Packaging Compliance Program Must Include
What your Packaging Compliance Program Must Include Regulatory scope Design for recycling Material composition Recycled content Labelling and and applicability and recyclability and hazardous and compostability traceability substances Audit process & Waste minimisation Supplier Extended Producer con
Slide 33: If you do just three things after this webinar, do these
If you do just three things after this webinar, do these: Map your regulatory hotspots Assess your three riskiest Set up a simple monitoring packaging formats routine Identify the markets and formats Start with the packs most likely to fail A monthly regulatory scan and most exposed to PFAS bans, fu
Slide 34: Conclusion: From regulatory pressure to strategic advantage
Conclusion: From regulatory pressure to strategic advantage Packaging regulation is accelerating and fragmenting globally Compliance is no longer static. Requirements on recyclability, recycled content, chemicals and reuse are tightening rapidly through 2026 and beyond. Two trends demand immediate a
Slide 35: Questions
Questions 35 © Leatherhead Food Research 2026
Slide 36: Disclaimer
Disclaimer Some parts of a report of this nature and/or the responses given to any follow-up enquiries or discussions after issuance of the report are inevitably subjective and/or based on information obtained in good faith from third party sources. Where opinions are expressed, they are the opinion
Slide 37: For further information visit us at leatherheadfood.com
For further information visit us at: leatherheadfood.com Email: help@leatherheadfood.com Follow us on LinkedIn: @leatherheadfoodresearch Epsom Cambridge London Washington Great Burgh Harston Mill First Floor 1150 18th Street NW Yew Tree Bottom Road Harston 17 Waterloo Place Suite 475 Epsom Cambridge
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