Switzerland's new Packaging Ordinance

The regulation sets legally binding recycling targets of 70% for beverage cartons, 55% for plastic packaging, and 75% for glass, PET, and aluminium beverage packaging. It sends a clear regulatory signal that packaging waste must increasingly stay within a circular system rather than end up as waste.

Beyond recycling, the ordinance puts stronger focus on design for circularity. It requires packaging to be minimised, recyclable, use higher levels of recycled content where feasible, and avoid substances of concern. Together with new take-back duties, reusable packaging requirements, and a disposal fee for glass packaging, the regulation shifts responsibility further upstream to the businesses that place packaging on the Swiss market.

The new framework introduces stricter data and reporting duties that demand much greater visibility of packaging materials, volumes, collection performance, and recycling outcomes. With implementation phased from 2027 to 2032, you have a valuable window to review your packaging portfolio, strengthen your data systems, and prepare for a more circular and accountable packaging landscape.

Although the most demanding packaging requirements will come in later, 2027 should be treated as a strategic preparation year. If you place packaging on the Swiss market, now’s the time to build clear visibility of your packaging portfolio, gather reliable data on materials and volumes, and assess current recyclability and recycled content performance. This work will be essential to meet future reporting, recycling, and circularity requirements and to stay ahead as expectations rise.

From 2027, beverage producers and importers face a new, more data-driven way of managing packaging. To get ahead, you should set up clear internal processes to track packaging flows, make sure you’re ready to report, and review how future recycling targets, deposit schemes, and take-back requirements could affect your business.