Industry Overview
On August 12, 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will enter full mandatory enforcement. This new circular economy legislation replaces the old packaging directive that has been in place for nearly 30 years, setting stringent market access thresholds for flexible packaging exporters worldwide. Traditional multi-layer laminated and multi-material co-extruded flexible packaging will face gradual restrictions on entry into the EU market due to difficult recyclability.
As a manufacturer with over 20 years of expertise in flexible packaging, Secia Pack has made early investments in sustainable packaging R&D. We have launched a full range of compliant mono-material packaging systems including Mono PE, Mono PP and Mono PO, delivering one-stop solutions to resolve PPWR compliance challenges for cross-border brands covering food, pet care, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
PPWR Barriers: Phase-Out of Traditional Laminated Packaging
PPWR applies to all packaging products circulated in the EU market, regardless of material or category, imposing four core restrictions on flexible packaging manufacturers:
Starting from 2030, all packaging placed on the market must achieve recyclability Grade A, B or C. Multi-layer laminated structures combining PET, aluminum and PE generally have a recycling efficiency below 70%, which will be classified as non-recyclable goods and banned from sale. By 2038, only high-recyclability packaging of Grade A and B will be permitted to circulate in the EU market. Conventional aluminum-plastic composite bags and multi-layer heterogeneous film pouches will completely lose market access to the EU.
For food-contact flexible packaging, the minimum post-consumer recycled (PCR) content requirement will stand at 30% in 2030 and rise to 50% by 2040. For non-sensitive packaging such as daily chemical and pet product packaging, the recycled content must reach 35% in 2030. Enterprises are required to provide complete raw material traceability reports and test certificates for recycled content.
All packaging must be equipped with QR code digital traceability carriers to fully record material composition, recyclability parameters, carbon footprint and full production data, enabling end-to-end traceability from raw materials to finished goods. Products without a digital product passport will be detained at customs and subject to removal from shelves.
Stringent limits are imposed on PFAS and heavy metals, with their total content capped at 100mg/kg. Factories must also meet standards for waste gas emissions and energy consumption; production lines with high VOC emissions will fail EU supply chain audits. Green and low-carbon manufacturing has become a basic qualification for brand suppliers.
Secia Pack: PPWR-Compliant Sustainable Packaging Solutions
Founded in 2006, Secia Pack covers a plant area of 80,000 square meters and employs over 500 professional staff. We operate two intelligent manufacturing bases with a daily output of 40 million bags and 50 tons of roll films. We focus on four major export segments: pet food, coffee & beverages, personal care & cosmetics, and medical diagnostic packaging. Supported by over 100 packaging patents, Class D GMP clean workshops and a complete physical, chemical and microbiological testing laboratory, we have completed PPWR compliance technical preparation in advance and built three core competitive advantages.
Full Range of Recyclable Mono-Material Packaging
To meet the mandatory mono-material recyclability requirements set by the regulation, Secia has developed three mono-material systems: Mono PE, Mono PP and Mono PO. These films consist solely of single polyolefin raw materials without aluminum foil or heterogeneous PET layers, delivering recyclability rates of 95%, 94% and 86% respectively.
Intelligent MES System Enables End-to-End Traceability for PPWR Digital Product Passports
The entire factory is equipped with an intelligent central control MES management system, which collects and stores real-time data covering all production stages from raw material warehousing, printing, lamination, slitting and bag making to finished goods delivery.
National-Level Green & Low-Carbon Manufacturing Plant
The factory is equipped with an RTO waste gas treatment system, delivering over 99% VOC removal efficiency, and an SHR steam waste heat recovery system, cutting annual coal use by around 1,000 tons with a 40% overall energy saving rate.
We own China Green Printing Ten-ring Certification, National Carbon Neutrality Commitment Demonstration Unit qualification, and global certifications including BRC, FSSC22000, FDA and ISO14001. Our production, emission and energy consumption standards meet EU supply chain environmental audits, preventing clients' supply suspension risks from poor environmental compliance.
Secia Pack: Green EU Export Solutions for Flexible Packaging
As the full enforcement window of PPWR draws near, export brands are facing an urgent need to upgrade their packaging. As a leading domestic flexible packaging manufacturer with large-scale production capacity, robust sustainable R&D capabilities and a full suite of international certifications, Secia Pack will keep increasing investment in three core technological R&D areas: recyclable mono-materials, low-carbon production and digital traceability.
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Continuously upgrade high-barrier aluminum-free mono-material films to lower brands' procurement costs for compliant packaging;
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Optimize a stable supply chain for post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials and provide standardized test documents verifying recycled content compliance;
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Upgrade the digital traceability system and offer standardized templates for EU Digital Product Passports;
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Open access to our green manufacturing plant for factory audits, delivering all-in-one integrated packaging solutions that fully comply with PPWR for cross-border brands.
Moving forward, centered on the core philosophy of "Green Innovation, Quality Globalization", Secia Pack will leverage our R&D strengths as a national-level Specialized, Refined, Unique & Innovative Enterprise. We will drive the circular transformation of China's flexible packaging industry, help more domestic brands break through EU environmental trade barriers, and realize global sustainable packaging deployment.
