Exporting to the EU in 2026: PPWR, PFAS & EN 13432

The compliance landscape for compostable foodware is tightening. A buyer-friendly summary of the rules that matter for EU and UK imports this year.

Regulation is now a competitive advantage, not just a hurdle. Here is what importers buying compostable foodware for the EU and UK should have on their radar in 2026.

The rules that matter

Single-Use Plastics Directive. Continues to push food service away from conventional plastic and toward certified alternatives.
PPWR (Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation). Tightens recyclability and compostability expectations and reinforces EPR obligations.
PFAS restrictions. "Forever chemicals" are being phased out — PFAS-free testing is increasingly non-negotiable.
EN 13432 / OK Compost. The proof that a compostability claim is real.

What we provide

For every shipment we supply the document set customs and brokers expect: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, EN 13432 / compostability certificates, and PFAS-free lab reports — with phytosanitary certification for areca where required.

The buyer's checklist

Ask every supplier for current certificates, verify them with the issuing body, and confirm PFAS-free testing. If a supplier cannot produce paperwork, treat the "eco" claim as unproven. Compliance is exactly where the cheap, uncertified end of the market falls down.