New EU packaging rules target plastic multipack rings

Claims that the European Union will ban bottled water multipacks from August 2026 have circulated widely on social media, but the legislation has been misrepresented.

The confusion stems from the EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which aims to reduce packaging waste and increase the use of recyclable and reusable materials across the bloc. While some provisions of the regulation take effect on 12 August 2026, they do not ban the sale of bottled water multipacks or the plastic rings used to hold them together.

The viral claim was amplified by French MEP Virginie Joron, who suggested that consumers would be forced to purchase and carry bottles individually. She later clarified that her comments referred to the regulation’s long-term objectives rather than an immediate ban.

The first measures entering into force in August focus mainly on restricting the use of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in food-contact packaging. The broader regulation is designed to ensure that all packaging sold in the EU is recyclable or reusable by 2030 while reducing the bloc’s growing packaging waste.

Although the PPWR places restrictions on some forms of plastic grouped packaging, such as shrink wrap used for certain retail multipacks, it does not prohibit all multipack packaging. The rules apply only to specific plastic packaging formats, and alternatives made from materials such as cardboard or paper remain allowed.

The regulation also includes exemptions where grouped packaging is necessary for the safe handling and transport of products. Bottled water multipacks are widely expected to fall under these exemptions because they help transport heavy loads securely, although the European Commission has not yet issued detailed implementation guidance.

The Commission is expected to publish further clarification by February 2027, outlining which packaging formats are covered by the new rules and which qualify for exemptions.

In short, the EU is not banning bottled water multipacks in August 2026. Instead, it is gradually tightening rules on unnecessary single-use plastic packaging while encouraging more sustainable packaging solutions.