With the publication of standard EN 18120-1:2026, a central European reference framework for the design of plastic packaging for recycling has been officially released. 

By dividing the standard into specific parts, CEN has provided targeted guidelines for various material streams. Part 1 covers the definitions and terminology from the PPWR. Part 3 addresses the presentation of methods related to the sortability of packaging (NIR technology, air separation, etc.). Parts 4 through 15 contain the guidelines and evaluation processes for individual types of plastic (PET bottles, PET rigid packaging, etc.). 

The foundational part of the series of standards has been listed as an active standard since April 15, 2026, by the Belgian standards organization NBN, among others, and is being successively published by the national standards institutes of the EU member states. The key factor here is the extent to which packaging designs are compatible with existing collection, sorting, and recycling processes. The standard covers both packaging consisting predominantly of plastic and corresponding individual components. 

The EN 18120 standard is to be explicitly incorporated into the planned delegated acts for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) by early 2028. As a result, the standard is likely to significantly shape how recycling-friendly packaging.