Starting August 12, 2026, the way food packaging is designed, used, and recycled in the European Union will change significantly, a major development in the context of safeguarding and protecting reproductive health

The new PPWR regulation—short for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation—replaces the previous European framework and aims to reduce packaging waste and increase reuse and recycling. At the same time, the goal is to reduce the presence of chemicals that may be harmful to human health.

Although the implementation of the new regulation will be phased in with regard to the reuse and recycling of packaging materials, strict restrictions on the use of PFAS in food-contact packaging are already in effect.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, constitute a large family of synthetic chemical compounds. They have been used for decades because they can make materials resistant to water, oil, and grease. For this reason, they have been used, among other things, in certain delivery packaging, paper wrappers, and food bags that require resistance to greasy substances. However, PFAS’s ability to withstand a wide range of conditions comes at a high cost. Most PFAS are extremely persistent chemicals that degrade very slowly in the environment, hence the term “forever chemicals.” The new European regulation notes that the use of PFAS in food-contact materials can have adverse effects on human health, particularly on reproductive health.

In recent years, there has been growing evidence linking exposure to PFAS with disruptions in the functioning of both the female and male reproductive systems. PFAS act as endocrine disruptors, with studies confirming their ability to cause oxidative stress and inflammation in our cells. In women, exposure to PFAS has been linked to problems with ovulation and egg maturation, while in men, negative effects on spermatogenesis and sperm quality have been reported. At the same time, there is growing scientific interest among researchers in the impact of PFAS on pregnancy, as well as on placental function.

The significance of the new regulation lies in a broader shift in philosophy. The protection of our reproductive health is moving from an individual concern to a consideration in the design of products and packaging—a development that ultimately concerns the protection of public health.