The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is transforming how packaging is designed, produced, and recycled. Christos Lecou explains how regulatory requirements can be turned into competitive advantage.
Christos Lecou, Marketing Manager Industrial Adhesives, Covestro
April 23rd, 2026
Balancing recyclability, performance, and efficiency under the EU PPWR
The PPWR presents packaging manufacturers with multiple challenges and ambitious targets: all packaging on the EU market must be recyclable by 2030; by 2035, recyclable at scale. Expert Christos Lecou shares how material innovation and collaboration across the value chain are key to turning regulatory pressure into lasting innovation, helping companies stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape.
In this interview, we ask Christos the following questions:
•What are the key hurdles facing packaging companies with the new PPWR and what approaches can help overcome these?
•How can we help ensure operational efficiency to boost business success when making packaging more sustainable?
•How can the chemical industry work together with other players to ease the transition to more sustainable packaging?
Download the interview to learn how a broad material portfolio, technical collaboration, and early partnerships can support manufacturers in navigating the technical and regulatory complexity ahead.
Where can I learn more?
I want to learn how to turn the PPWR’s regulatory pressure into competitive advantage.
Packaging must increasingly be designed with recyclability in mind. Manufacturers can achieve this by reducing composite materials, shifting to mono-material structures, and replacing traditional barrier layers with recycling-compatible coatings or adhesives.
Preserving performance
Preserving performance
Sustainable packaging must still protect products, be safe for food contact, and be easily integrated into existing processes. Heat-resistant coatings, barrier resins, and compatible adhesives can help manufacturers balance recyclability with high performance.
Collaboration across the value chain
Collaboration across the value chain
Navigating regulatory complexity requires collaboration between material suppliers, formulators, converters, recyclers, institutes, and industry associations to push joint testing, certification frameworks, and shared expertise.
Packaging manufacturers need to be prepared with solutions for multiple scenarios. That's where a broad portfolio and the right partnerships make all the difference.
Christos Lecou
Marketing Manager, Industrial Adhesives, Covestro
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Which materials can help me solve my coatings or adhesives challenges?
Delve deeper into the practical material and technology solutions that we can offer to respond to your needs.
Story
Monomaterials
We have developed a range of monomaterial coating resin solutions to enable recyclable packaging.
Industry
Packaging & print
From sustainable functionality to unpacking what the future holds
Application
Paper & board
No matter how demanding the substrate, our resins make your primers, inks and finish more efficient and reliable.
Application
Cans and containers
We offer increasingly versatile and more sustainable resin solutions for various cans and containers.
