Friday, Jul 24, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ ↗
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POLITICS

The Claim

A coalition of chief executive officers from packaging-related industries sent a letter to the European Commission requesting a delay in the application date of the European Union Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation because guidance on restrictions and definitions, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) restrictions, had not yet been issued.

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The Short Version

Contemporaneous reporting and the letter’s described contents support this account. A CEO coalition asked the European Commission to delay the PPWR application date because key guidance and legal clarity, including on PFAS-related provisions and definitions, were still missing when the request was made. Later Commission guidance does not change what the letter said at the time.

Caveats

  • The signatories were not only packaging companies; reports describe a broader coalition across food, beverage, and packaging sectors.
  • Later guidance was issued by the European Commission, but that does not refute the claim about the situation when the letter was sent.
  • Some coverage relies on leaked or summarized versions of the letter rather than a full official publication, though the core request is consistently reported.

The Receipts

  1. PPWR Implementation – Adjust the August 2026 application date and also conduct a targeted review to clarify key requirements so to ensure effective and compliant implementation

    Euractiv

  2. 160+ environmental and health groups respond to last-minute attempt by Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and others to reopen EU packaging law

    European Environmental Bureau

  3. Major brands back call to delay EU packaging rules

    Eco Plastics in Packaging

  4. Joint letter in defense of landmark EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

    European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

  5. CEOs Urge EU to Postpone Packaging Regulation Enforcement

    Packaging Europe

  6. CEOs petition EU Commission to postpone enforcement of PPWR

    Packaging Europe

  7. PPWR's August deadline under pressure as leaked industry letter from Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Kraft Heinz urges delay

    PackagingInsights

  8. EU Packaging Regulation Explained: Key Compliance & PFAS Restrictions

    YouTube

  9. Over 120 companies urge EU keep PPWR on schedule

    Plastics News

  10. EU Publishes Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) Guidance Document

    CIRS Group

+ 8 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

European CommissionEuropean Union Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulationper- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

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