During August 2026, the European Commission published and put into effect a series of major legislative initiatives and consultations that will fundamentally impact environmental policy, industries and waste management. economy in the Member States. These measures cover a wide range of areas, from the reform of the Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to new rules for packaging materials and end-of-life vehicles to the simplification of energy labelling rules. The main objective of these legislative amendments is to strengthen the circular economy, promote decarbonisation, reduce dependence on imported primary raw materials and align European legislation with long-term climate goals.

1. Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): Comprehensive life cycle regulation

From August 12, 2026 has become directly applicable in all Member States of the European Union Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This regulation sets out requirements for the sustainability and labelling of packaging throughout its life cycle. Its primary objective is to prevent the creation of unnecessary packaging and to actively promote the reuse and recycling of packaging materials.

Under the new rules, all packaging must be designed to minimise the presence of harmful substances and be fully recyclable. In the case of plastic packaging, an obligation is introduced to contain a minimum proportion of recycled material originating from post-consumer plastic waste. The regulation also explicitly prohibits packaging that increases the perceived volume of the product. Producers are made responsible for the entire life cycle of their packaging, including the management of packaging waste.

The PPWR Regulation sets binding targets for Member States:

• To year 2030 Member States must achieve 70 % recycling rate for all packaging waste.
• To year 2029 must be implemented in all Member States backup systems for disposable plastic or metal beverage containers.

Implementing and delegated acts on recycled content of plastics

Following the application of the PPWR, the European Commission published on August 14, 2026 Calls for evidence on three acts supporting requirements for recycled content in plastic packaging. Calls for evidence are closed September 16, 2026 if their official adoption is expected in 4th quarter 2026.

These three acts cover the following areas:

1. First implementing act establishes a methodology for calculating and verifying the recycled content of post-consumer plastic waste.
2. Delegated act sets sustainability criteria for plastic recycling technologies, taking into account environmental performance, energy consumption and emissions.
3. Second implementing act regulates the verification of equivalence for recycled material content from countries outside the European Union.

2. Automotive sector: End-of-life vehicle regulation

On August 13, 2026 entered into force End-of-life vehicle regulation, which revises the rules governing the design, production, collection and treatment of end-of-life vehicles. The regulation aims to strengthen circularity in the automotive sector through more efficient use of resources and increased recovery and reuse of materials.

A key element of the regulation is mandatory targets for recycled plastic content in new vehicles:

• From year 2032 new vehicles must contain at least 15 % recycled plastics.
• From year 2036 this target increases to 25 % recycled plastics.

The European Commission is to set recycled content targets for steel and aluminium in subsequent regulations. The regulation aims to ensure a more stable supply of secondary raw materials and reduce Europe's dependence on imported virgin resources.

3. Review of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)

European Commission of the day August 20, 2026 has opened a feedback period on three legislative proposals to amend the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). These proposals were published as part of the mandatory review of the EU ETS in July 2026. The proposals aim to boost investment in decarbonisation while preserving a robust carbon market.

The three legislative proposals regulate the following areas:

1. Maritime sector – the first proposal amends the monitoring, reporting and verification requirements for the maritime sector.
2. Heat and fuel – the second proposal increases the amount of free allocation within the heat and fuel benchmarks for the years 2026 to 2030.
3. Climate target 2040 – the third proposal amends the main EU ETS Directive and the Market Stability Reserve Decision, aligning the system with the proposed EU climate target for 2040.

Feedback on these proposals is open until October 16, 2026.

4. Simplifying the rules: Energy labelling and digital product passports

Same day August 20, 2026 The European Commission has invited feedback on a proposal for an omnibus regulation amending the Energy Labelling Regulation and the Tyre Labelling Regulation. This proposal has been adopted June 24, 2026.

The proposal aims to simplify and improve compliance through targeted changes to the rules governing the provision and display of energy labels and tyre labels, while maintaining the provision of information to customers.

The proposal also aligns energy labelling with digital product passports under the Ecodesign Regulation for sustainable products. Feedback is open until October 15, 2026.

5. Overview of key dates and schedule for the internship

For better orientation of stakeholders, the following key terms emerge from the latest steps of the European Commission:

• August 12, 2026: Start of application of the PPWR Regulation in all Member States.
• August 13, 2026: Entry into force of the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation.
• September 16, 2026: Deadline for calls for evidence on PPWR acts on recycled plastic content.
• October 15, 2026: Deadline for feedback on the comprehensive regulation on energy labelling and tire labels.
• October 16, 2026: Feedback deadline for three legislative proposals to amend the EU ETS.
• 4th quarter 2026: Expected adoption of implementing and delegated acts to the PPWR.
• Year 2029: Mandatory introduction of deposit systems for single-use plastic or metal beverage containers.
• Year 2030: Achieving a 70% packaging waste recycling rate.
• Years 2032 and 2036: The introduction of mandatory targets for recycled plastic content in new vehicles (15 % and 25 %).

These legislative amendments constitute a comprehensive framework through which the European Union guides the transition of industrial sectors towards more sustainable and circular practices. JRi&CO2AI