The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) is the new European regulation governing packaging and packaging waste. It replaces the former directive and, as a regulation, applies directly across all Member States. Its objective is to reduce the volume of packaging generated, encourage reuse, and ensure that all packaging placed on the market is recyclable.
For anyone organising a festival, a sports event, or running a hospitality business, the PPWR is more than just a regulatory document: it reshapes how drinks are served, how purchasing is planned, and how sustainability is communicated.
What changes for events
The regulation sets reuse targets for specific packaging formats and restricts certain single-use options, particularly for on-premises consumption. In practice, events and hospitality operators must recognise that disposable cups are on their way out, and audiences increasingly expect reusable alternatives.
In Spain, Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils had already paved the way with measures to curb single-use plastics and promote reuse systems. The PPWR reinforces this trajectory across Europe with progressive implementation timelines.
How to prepare without overcomplicating operations
The key is not just switching cups, but designing the entire system. A reusable cup only works if it comes back: that is why it pays to plan from the outset how it is handed out, how it is collected, where it is washed, and how it is stored between editions.
Selecting the right material is equally important. A recyclable material like ZEROPL makes it easier to close the loop at the end of the cup's service life; a biodegradable material like UNDO prevents persistent waste, including microplastics, when the risk of loss or littering is higher.
Finally, return systems such as BackCup, deposit schemes, or cashless integration help recover more cups, whilst QR traceability allows you to track return rates and reuse cycles: robust data to demonstrate compliance and communicate credentials with confidence.
An opportunity, not merely an obligation
As a starting point, we recommend reviewing three aspects ahead of your next edition: which single-use packaging is still being used across bars and catering areas, the volume of cups required under a reusable model based on capacity and turnover, and what washing and storage resources you have on-site or can outsource. With this insight, you can scale the transition gradually, prioritising high-volume zones and measuring results from day one to refine operations in future editions.
Events that stay ahead of the PPWR do not just mitigate regulatory risks: they improve venue cleanliness, reduce waste management costs, and build a sustainability narrative grounded in facts, not claims.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. If you would like to assess how to introduce reuse at your event, our team can help you select the optimal format, material, and return system.