Knowledge Base
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Glossary and Fact Sheet
Key terms
| Term | Definition |
| PPWR | The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, setting lifecycle requirements for packaging placed on the EU market. |
| Post-consumer resin (PCR) | Recycled plastic recovered from used packaging and reprocessed for reuse in new packaging. |
| Recycled content | The proportion of recycled material in a pack; the PPWR sets minimum levels for plastic packaging. |
| PFAS | Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances; the PPWR sets thresholds for food-contact packaging. |
| Empty space ratio | A PPWR limit on the proportion of unused volume in transport packaging. |
| Melt flow rate (MFR / MFI) | How easily a molten polymer flows under set conditions, in g/10 min; a check of resin consistency. |
| Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) | The amount of oxygen passing through a film or package over time; a barrier and shelf-life measure. |
| Seal integrity | Whether a package seal holds under pressure and resists leaks; assessed by burst, creep, and leak tests. |
Standards reference
| Standard | Scope | IP standards page |
| ASTM D1238 | Melt flow rate of thermoplastics by extrusion plastometer. | Live |
| ISO 1133 | Melt mass-flow rate and melt volume-flow rate of thermoplastics. | Not linked in this hub |
| ISO 11607 | Packaging for terminally sterilized medical devices; seal integrity. | Live |
| ASTM F2095 / F1140 / F2054 / F2096 | Seal strength and package integrity tests supported by the BT Integra Pack. | Not linked in this hub |
Instrument quick facts
| Instrument | Measures | Role in PPWR readiness |
| Ray-Ran MFR300 | Melt flow rate (g/10 min) | Verify recycled resin consistency before it runs. |
| Systech OxySense 8101e | Oxygen transmission rate | Confirm redesigned films still protect shelf life. |
| TME BT Integra Pack | Burst, creep, leak integrity | Confirm redesigned packs still seal. |
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FAQs
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The regulation applies to packaging placed on the EU market, and its first requirements become mandatory in 2026 across all 27 EU member states and for businesses supplying EU markets. Different provisions phase in over time, so confirm the dates that apply to your packaging against the regulation itself.
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Post-consumer resin varies more than virgin resin in flow, barrier, and strength. When a redesigned pack uses PCR to meet recycled-content rules, that variability enters production, so testing is needed to catch it before it becomes defects, waste, or recalls.
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Use melt flow rate testing. The Ray-Ran MFR300 measures MFR to ASTM D1238 and ISO 1133, so you can verify each delivery of recycled resin and predict how it will behave in molding and extrusion.
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It can. Oxygen transmission rate testing with the Systech OxySense 8101e confirms whether a redesigned or more sustainable film still keeps oxygen out well enough to protect the product’s shelf life.
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Test seal and leak integrity. The TME BT Integra Pack runs burst, creep, and leak integrity tests to standards including ISO 11607, giving repeatable, traceable evidence that the redesigned seal holds.
Related Articles
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The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is the European Union's regulation for packaging placed on the EU market. Its first requirements become mandatory in 2026 across all 27 EU member states and for businesses that supply EU markets. The rules reach across the whole packaging lifecycle, including thresholds for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)…
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The PPWR is reshaping how packaging is designed and made. It sets requirements across the packaging lifecycle, and its first obligations become mandatory in 2026 for packaging placed on the EU market, including by manufacturers outside the EU who supply it. The areas with the widest impact include PFAS limits for food-contact packaging, minimum recycled…
