23. July 2026

The new Swiss Packaging Ordinance

What applies now and what companies need to do

In our previous article on packaging regulations, we described what the EU PPWR means for companies and noted that Switzerland will soon follow suit. Now the time has come: On June 24, 2026, the Federal Council adopted the new Packaging Ordinance (VerpV). It will take effect on January 1, 2027, and replace the previous Beverage Packaging Ordinance (VGV) from 2000.

What’s changing, who it affects, and what to do now—an overview.

What the new VerpV regulates

The Packaging Ordinance (VerpV) significantly expands its scope to cover all types of packaging, not just those used for beverages. It also introduces mandatory targets for recycling, take-back, and data transparency.

An overview of the most important changes:

Starting in 2027: The regulation will take effect. Industry organizations such as RecyPac will be able to operate collection systems without a license starting at that time—this provides legal certainty for a nationwide expansion. This is made possible because plastic packaging and beverage cartons have been exempted from the waste management monopoly and are therefore no longer considered “municipal waste.”
2027–2031: Transition phase: Collection systems can already be in operation, but the subsidiary take-back obligation does not take effect until 2031.
Starting in 2028: The advance disposal fee (VEG) on glass packaging will be expanded—it will no longer apply only to beverage bottles, but to all glass packaging (jam, cosmetics, spices, etc.). The fee ranges from 1 to 10 rappen per packaging unit (Art. 9 VerpV).
Starting in 2030: General requirements for packaging will take effect. Packaging must be limited to the minimum necessary, contain a high proportion of recycled materials, and be free of substances of very high concern.
Starting in 2031: Manufacturers and distributors are required to take back single-use plastic packaging and beverage cartons—or delegate this obligation to an industry organization. At the same time, a reporting requirement will take effect in 2031: The quantities of packaging placed on the market must be recorded and reported by material type.
Starting in 2032: Mandatory recycling rates must be met: 70% for beverage cartons, 55% for single-use plastic packaging. If these targets are not met, DETEC may order measures—including the implementation of a deposit system.

What Sets the VerpV Apart from the EU-PPWR

Compared to the European PPWR, the Swiss solution remains more pragmatic and less bureaucratic. The VerpV does not include reuse requirements of the kind stipulated by the PPWR for certain categories. Reporting requirements are also streamlined: The originally planned breakdown of plastic packaging by polymer type was removed from the final version.

Nevertheless, the VerpV is clearly aligned with the EU’s approach—so anyone already familiar with the PPWR is well prepared for the Swiss requirements.

What this means for businesses in concrete terms

The Packaging Ordinance applies to all companies that place packaging on the market in Switzerland—manufacturers, importers, and retailers. Depending on the packaging portfolio, there are different areas of action:

For manufacturers and distributors:

Determine which packaging will meet the new requirements for minimum dimensions, recycled content, and freedom from harmful substances starting in 2030
Building a database: The reporting requirement takes effect in 2031—those who start collecting data now will avoid time pressure
Clarifying the take-back obligation: An independent solution or delegation to an industry organization such as RecyPac?

For retailers:

Identify glass packaging items in the product line that will be subject to the expanded VEG starting in 2028
Review and, if necessary, expand the collection infrastructure—the recycling rates starting in 2032 can only be achieved if the collection system works properly
Actively supporting industry solutions: The quotas apply to everyone; the infrastructure must be shared

Don’t wait any longer

The transition periods extending through 2031 and 2032 may seem long—but establishing data transparency, switching to new packaging, and setting up take-back systems takes time.

Here at ecos, we can assist you in implementing the new packaging requirements—from analyzing your existing packaging portfolio to establishing the necessary database and developing specific optimization measures.

Our work with Denner illustrates how this plays out in practice: For about a year now, we have been supporting the further development of their packaging strategy. Read more about this in the article on the EU PPWR and Swiss packaging regulations.

Would you like to know exactly where your company stands?

Request a consultation →

Sources:

Federal Council (2026): Packaging Ordinance (VerpV). Adopted on June 24, 2026; effective January 1, 2027. Text of the ordinance (PDF)

Federal Council (2026): Press Release: New Packaging Ordinance. June 24, 2026. admin.ch

Swiss Recycle (2026): New Swiss Packaging Ordinance: A Major Step Forward for the Circular Economy of Packaging. June 24, 2026. swissrecycle.ch

RecyPac (2026): New Packaging Ordinance: A Major Milestone for Switzerland’s Circular Economy. June 25, 2026. recypac.ch

Do you have any questions? Write to us!

Packaging Project with Denner

As ecos, we have been supporting Denner in the further development of its packaging strategy for about a year; Marco Wallimann has been assisting Denner in this regard since 2023—and we are consistently building on this foundation to expand our work and the insights we have gained. Specifically, we are creating data transparency across the packaging portfolio, developing decision-making frameworks for comparing single-use and reusable solutions, and translating the results into actionable operational improvements.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version) The results are measurable: The analyses have directly led to over 100 implemented packaging optimizations at Denner.