“Those who do not act, will vanish’’

The European Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR) are coming. Entrepreneurs in the construction materials wholesale industry who have not yet taken action will risk high fines – or worse, lose their business. ‘This is no longer a non-committal directive. Anyone who does not comply could disappear from the market.’

These are clear words from Marnix Van Hoe, secretary general of the European trade association of builders merchants Ufemat. The PPWR, which replaces the previous packaging directive (PPWD), was published in April and will come fully into force in 2026. It has far-reaching implications for all links in the building materials trade chain.

All packaging on the European market will have to meet clear sustainability, reusability and recyclability requirements from then on. Moreover, there will be a comprehensive system of reporting and monitoring, with traders and distributors in the construction sector also explicitly named as responsible parties.

These responsibilities apply to the entire packaging chain: from manufacturer to wholesaler to end user. Companies must have insight into what packaging they use, what materials it consists of, whether it is recyclable and where it ends up. ‘It is by no means a bit of paperwork,’ says Van Hoe. ‘You have to know what you are packaging, where it comes from, what happens to it – and all that has to be registered as well. And that also involves audits.’

For many companies in the construction materials sector, this is a big step. Until now, there was hardly any focus on packaging, let alone its environmental impact. But that is changing. ‘This time is serious,’ warns Van Hoe. ‘The PPWR is directly applicable in all member states, with no further transposition into national legislation required. This means that companies can no longer hide behind differences in interpretation or implementation. The European Commission has gone to great lengths to close all loopholes. And the fines are not cheap. We are talking about serious sanctions, not a token slap on the wrist.’

That the construction industry is adapting is already visible on the building site. ‘It is now quite common to have a row of different containers there to separate waste. But the PPWR goes further than that. It demands that you systematically report, sort and communicate on the use of packaging and materials.’

It also will increase the number of inspections. Companies must be able to demonstrate compliance. Those who fail to do so risk hefty penalties. ‘There are inspectors to supervise, and those who fail to comply can expect hefty fines. We are not talking about non-committal environmental policy targets here. The controls are real.’

Yet a sense of urgency is still often lacking in the sector. ‘I still see manufacturers and traders who will see it all through. But the truth is: there needs to be urgency. We try to make that clear to our members. If you do nothing now, you risk being squeezed out of the market.’

Van Hoe believes that this is not an exaggeration, but a realistic scenario. In a market where sustainability and compliance are becoming leading, only compliant companies will be able to continue supplying. Governments, construction companies and property developers will increasingly impose requirements on their suppliers.

The call to entrepreneurs is therefore clear: don’t wait. Inform yourself about the obligations, join a collective system if available, and start collecting data today. Look critically at your packaging materials, at the role you play in the chain, and prepare for a new era of transparency and responsibility. Or, as Van Hoe summarises it succinctly, ‘Those who don’t act, will vanish.’