The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) published the first version of the declaration of conformity for EPAL Euro pallets with the provisions of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) on July 25. With the PPWR conformity declaration, EPAL confirms that EPAL Euro pallets are reusable packaging that meets the requirements of the PPWR. This was reported by the association, which organizes the open EPAL pallet pool, in Düsseldorf on the same day to the press.
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) came into force on February 11, 2025, but the application will not start until August 12, 2026. According to the announcement, the start of application for many provisions is even later, as not all implementing regulations are available or a longer transition period
is necessary. In contrast, the obligation to submit declarations of conformity, as regulated in Article 39 of the PPWR, already applies from August 12, 2026. According to EPAL, many companies using pallets are already preparing for this and checking the PPWR conformity of the pallets they use.
Dirk Hoferer, President of EPAL, said: “Manufacturers of EPAL Euro pallets are receiving an increasing number of requests for a PPWR conformity declaration for EPAL Euro pallets, as many companies want to be sure when purchasing pallets that they will meet the reuse targets regulated in the PPWR in the future. We are happy to comply with our customers' wishes because EPAL Euro pallets and the open EPAL pallet pool are exemplary models of reusable packaging and a reuse system in
the sense of the PPWR.”
According to the announcement, declarations of conformity in accordance with Article 39 of the PPWR must generally be prepared by the manufacturer of the packaging themselves. However, since EPAL Euro pallets are manufactured according to the internationally uniform standard of EPAL, EPAL can formulate the PPWR conformity declaration and make it available to licensed manufacturers and repair companies. According to the association, users of EPAL Euro pallets receive the PPWR conformity declaration directly from their suppliers but can also request the conformity declaration from EPAL.
“EPAL Euro pallets meet all the requirements for PPWR conformity of packaging,” said Bernd Dörre, CEO of EPAL. “This is not only confirmed by us in the PPWR conformity declaration but also explained concisely. Reuse, repair, and easy
recycling without generating waste are just a few examples of the PPWR requirements that have been fulfilled by EPAL Euro pallets for many years. Important for the users of EPAL pallets: The quality assurance of EPAL with approximately 25,000 unannounced inspections per year will in the future ensure not only the high quality but also the PPWR conformity of EPAL Euro pallets.”
According to the information, some PPWR requirements for packaging will be regulated in detail by the EU Commission in various implementing regulations in the coming months and years. EPAL will therefore regularly adjust the PPWR conformity declaration if necessary, due to the implementing regulations for the PPWR. At the same time, EPAL will also publish identical PPWR conformity declarations for all other EPAL load carriers, it
