REP 2026: NEW RULES FOR PROFESSIONAL PACKAGING
The EPR scheme applied to industrial and commercial packaging is entering a decisive phase, with full implementation expected in 2026.
The establishment of the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) scheme dedicated to industrial and commercial packaging is one of the major projects of the AGEC law. Until now, professional packaging such as plastic film, pallets, crates, drums and containers used in logistics, industry and distribution did not fall within the scope of direct financial responsibility for those placing them on the market. The year 2026 will change this equation: a consolidated legal framework, restructured financing and new traceability requirements will redefine the design, circulation and management practices for professional packaging.
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A packaging sector expected to structure a previously heterogeneous industry
Industrial and commercial packaging constitutes a highly diverse set of materials and formats, often managed by internal channels specific to each company or sector. The absence of a formalised sector has until now led to highly variable recycling performance and difficulty in ensuring unified producer responsibility. This context also affected more technical families, such as certain models optimised for packaging design.
The framework decree published by the Ministry, analysed in particular by the Banque des Territoires, now lays the foundations for the EPR sector: definition of the scope, obligations of those placing products on the market, governance, approval of eco-organisations. The objective is clear: to harmonise the management of professional waste, finance the costs of collection and recycling, and encourage reduction at source, including in the more specialised segments of the European packaging industry.
The new regulatory landscape: what obligations and mechanisms will apply from 2026?
From 2026, companies will have to assume extended responsibility and comply with stricter reporting requirements. The framework introduces three key changes.
Next, traceability becomes central. Companies will be required to report the volumes of packaging put into circulation, specify the materials used and document their recyclability. This regular monitoring aims to create consistent visibility, which is essential for managing the sector and adjusting contributions.
Finally, this reform acts as a lever for eco-design. Preparing for 2026 already involves revising packaging models: simplifying structures, reducing composite materials, improving recycling, and developing reusable packaging. The reform creates an upstream movement: environmental impact must be anticipated from the design phase onwards, a challenge at the heart of modern packaging design.
Professional EPR: what do companies need to anticipate in concrete terms?
The transition to EPR for industrial and commercial packaging is not just a matter of regulatory adaptation. It involves a reconfiguration of technical, economic and organisational choices:
- Introduction of eco-contributions linked to volumes and materials.
- Obligation to declare packaging placed on the market.
- Need to adapt designs to reduce packaging that is difficult to recycle.
- Clarification of responsibilities between producers, distributors and professional users.
These changes require internal work, but also a more structured dialogue with suppliers, logisticians and customers. Anticipation requires enhanced cooperation throughout the value chain.
2026: a sustainable turning point
The EPR scheme for professional packaging is not limited to the addition of an administrative obligation. It marks a turning point in the way companies organise their packaging flows and assess their environmental impact, aiming to fill a grey area and generalise financial responsibility by producers.
From 2026 onwards, companies will have to integrate EPR as a strategic element of their operational management: control of tonnages, choice of materials, logistics optimisation, reporting, and reduction of non-recyclable waste. The success of this transition will depend on the ability of organisations to anticipate, adjust their practices and collaborate across the sector.
In the meantime, meet the packaging experts at the ALLFORPACK EMBALLAGE PARIS trade show from 24 to 26 November 2026 at Paris Nord Villepinte, and join us for a webinar in January on the theme of ‘EPR for professional packaging more than 30 years after its introduction for household packaging’. More information to come.
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