Recycled-Content Calculator
See your gap to the PPWR 2030 recycled-content minimum by packaging category — and the tonnes of PCR needed to close it.
Inputs
Result
Targets are PPWR Article 7 minimums, averaged per manufacturing plant and year. Compostable plastics and some medical/contact-sensitive exemptions apply. Indicative only — confirm scope with your compliance team. See the Standards & Regulations hub.
How to use itMeasure the gap to the 2030 target
- Select the packaging category. Each has its own minimum recycled-content target under PPWR Article 7.
- Enter your current post-consumer recycled (PCR) content as a percentage of the plastic.
- Enter the annual plastic tonnage you place on the market. The tool returns the 2030 minimum, the gap in percentage points, and the extra PCR you need to buy in per year to close it.
Why it mattersWhy recycled-content targets are now mandatory
From 2030 the PPWR sets binding minimum recycled-content levels for plastic packaging, measured as an average per manufacturing plant and year. This turns post-consumer recyclate from a nice-to-have into a supply-chain requirement: miss the threshold and the packaging cannot be placed on the EU market. Because recyclate is a constrained and price-volatile material, knowing the gap early — and the tonnage of PCR it implies — is what lets you secure supply, qualify grades for your process, and budget before the deadline forces a scramble.
ReferencePPWR recycled-content minimums
| Plastic packaging category | From 2030 | From 2040 |
|---|---|---|
| Contact-sensitive, made from PET | 30% | 50% |
| Contact-sensitive, other plastic | 10% | 25% |
| Single-use plastic beverage bottles | 30% | 65% |
| Other plastic packaging | 35% | 65% |
The mathsThe formulas
Extra PCR per year = annual plastic tonnage × gap ÷ 100
The targets apply as an average across a plant's output for a category, not pack by pack, which gives some room to balance a hard-to-recycle line against an easier one. Contact-sensitive packaging — food, medical and similar — carries the food-safety burden of using recyclate, which is why its targets start lower than general plastic. Compostable plastics and certain medical and contact-sensitive applications are exempt or deferred, so confirm your exact scope.
Closing the gapWhere the recycled content comes from
Meeting the target usually means qualifying food-grade rPET or mechanically recycled polyolefins, and increasingly chemically recycled material where mass-balance accounting is accepted. Design choices help: monomaterial, clear or lightly coloured packaging is easier to hit with recyclate than complex or heavily pigmented structures. Recycled content also interacts with recyclability grade and EPR fees — see the recyclability grade checker and EPR fee estimator.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What are the PPWR recycled-content targets for 2030?
From 2030, contact-sensitive PET packaging and single-use plastic beverage bottles must contain at least 30% recycled content, other contact-sensitive plastic at least 10%, and all other plastic packaging at least 35% — measured as an average per manufacturing plant and year.
How much recycled content will be required by 2040?
The targets rise sharply: 50% for contact-sensitive PET, 25% for other contact-sensitive plastic, and 65% for both beverage bottles and other plastic packaging by 2040.
How is the recycled-content target measured?
As an average across the packaging a manufacturing plant places on the market for a given category in a year, not pack by pack. This lets producers balance harder-to-meet lines against easier ones within the same category.
Which packaging is exempt from the recycled-content rules?
Compostable plastic packaging, and certain contact-sensitive and medical applications, are exempt or have deferred deadlines under the regulation. Because the exemptions are specific, confirm your product's exact scope with your compliance team.
How do I calculate the recyclate I need to buy?
Multiply your annual plastic tonnage by the gap between your current recycled content and the target, divided by 100. For example, a 20-point gap on 100 tonnes means 20 tonnes of additional post-consumer recyclate per year.