The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) restricts the presence of heavy metals in packaging materials placed on the EU market. Textile, apparel, footwear, and fashion companies exporting to Europe should ensure their packaging complies with these requirements to support market access and reduce compliance risks.

Heavy Metals Covered Under PPWR

PPWR limits the combined concentration of:

• Lead (Pb)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)

The total concentration of these substances must not exceed 100 mg/kg (100 ppm) in packaging materials.

Common Packaging Components Requiring Testing

• Shoe boxes
• Hangtags and labels
• Stickers and printed materials
• Polybags and dust bags
• Protective films
• Shipping cartons
• Packaging tapes

SGS PPWR Heavy Metal Testing Services

SGS provides laboratory testing to assess packaging materials against PPWR heavy metal requirements, helping businesses:

• Identify potential compliance risks
• Verify packaging material conformity

Ensure your packaging is ready for PPWR. Contact SGS today to request a quote for our Heavy Metal Testing solutions for textile, apparel, and footwear packaging.