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[Industry News]Global Market and Policy Dynamics: EU PPWR Countdown, Coexistence of Compliance and Export Opportunities for the Pulp Molding Industry

Release time:

Feb 10,2026

[Industry News]Global Market and Policy Dynamics: EU PPWR Countdown, Coexistence of Compliance and Export Opportunities for the Pulp Molding Industry
[Industry News]Global Market and Policy Dynamics: EU PPWR Countdown, Coexistence of Compliance and Export Opportunities for the Pulp Molding Industry

Global Market and Policy Dynamics: EU PPWR Countdown, Coexistence of Compliance and Export Opportunities for the Pulp Molding Industry

In February 2026, there are only 6 months left before the full implementation of the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the "strictest packaging regulation in the world", which is entering the final sprint stage. As a unified regulatory system covering the entire life cycle of packaging, PPWR not only forces the upgrading of China's pulp molding industry with strict compliance requirements, but also opens up a broad export blue ocean for it through the compliance dilemma of plastic packaging. The coexistence of compliance and opportunities has become the core of the industry's global layout.

Core Analysis of PPWR: Full-Chain Strict Supervision, Natural Compliance of Pulp Molding

Officially taking effect on February 11, 2025, PPWR is directly binding on all EU member states without the need for transposition by member states. It focuses on building a full-chain supervision around "environmental protection, recycling and recyclability", and many provisions are beneficial to the pulp molding industry. First, the recycling target is strict: paper packaging needs to achieve 100% recyclability by 2035, and pulp molding is naturally compatible with the existing recycling system. Second, an A-C recyclability rating system is introduced, and pulp molding generally reaches Grade A, which is significantly better than plastic packaging. Third, PFAS is prohibited in food-contact packaging, and pulp molding can easily meet compliance requirements without fluorine-containing additives. Fourth, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is strengthened, and the compliance cost of pulp molding is much lower than that of plastic. In addition, its void ratio and heavy metal content are far higher than the requirements of the new regulation, making it a "compliance favorite" of the new regulation.

Compliance Challenges: Three Core Challenges for Domestic Enterprises

Chinese pulp molding enterprises planning to enter the EU market need to address three core challenges: first, the increase in compliance costs and certification thresholds. The improvement of CE certification, EN 13432 certification and labeling standards has put pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises. Second, product performance needs precise adaptation. The high-end EU market has high requirements for packaging functionality and lightweight, forcing enterprises to focus on technological upgrading such as fluorine-free modification. Third, the supply chain needs full-process compliance, and it is necessary to improve the full-life-cycle traceability system of raw materials, production and recycling.

Export Opportunities: EU Market Expansion, Prominent Advantages of Chinese Enterprises

The implementation of PPWR has brought unprecedented export opportunities. The EU will fully ban disposable plastic packaging by 2030, leading to an explosion in demand for pulp molding. Data show that the European pulp molding market size reached 1.28 billion US dollars in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.1% from 2025 to 2030, and medical and food packaging are the main growth drivers [2][3][6]. As the world's largest production base, China has obvious advantages in technology, production capacity and cost, and its product prices are 30%-40% lower than those of European local enterprises [3]. Enterprises such as Bohui Paper, Huagong Huanyuan and Zhongxin Co., Ltd. have laid out in advance, seized the market through international certification, and their EU export orders have continued to grow.

Enterprise Response Strategies: Compliance First, Precise Layout

Domestic enterprises need to take active response measures to build core competitiveness: first, accelerate compliance layout, sort out core provisions, complete key certifications, improve the traceability system and connect with EU compliance institutions. Second, focus on technological innovation, increase investment in fluorine-free modification and intelligent production, and balance compliance and cost. Third, accurately layout segmented tracks, focus on high-end scenarios such as food and medical care to create customized products, and expand export channels such as cross-border e-commerce.

Conclusion: PPWR is a Catalyst for Industry Upgrading

PPWR is not a trade barrier, but a catalyst for the upgrading of China's pulp molding industry. At present, the industry is transforming from "low-end substitution" to "high-end intelligent manufacturing", and PPWR forces enterprises to eliminate low-end production capacity and focus on core technologies. Chinese enterprises with compliance capabilities and technological advantages are expected to take advantage of the EU market expansion, break the monopoly of European and American enterprises, enhance global discourse power, and achieve high-quality exports and sustainable industrial development.

 

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