Why Safe Materials Matter for the Future of Packaging
By Maelenn Ravard van Hees, Sustainability and Regulatory Manager at TotalEnergies Corbion
When people talk about sustainable packaging, the conversation often focuses on recyclability, recycled content, or reducing carbon emissions. These topics are important, but the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) reminds us of another essential principle: packaging must also be safe.
One of the first PPWR requirements to apply across the European Union from August 12th, 2026 is Article 5, which focuses on substances of concern in packaging materials. In simple terms, the regulation aims to reduce substances that could harm human health especially in food contact applications, the environment, or the quality of recycled materials.
A truly circular economy depends on materials that can be safely collected, recycled, and reused. If unwanted substances enter the recycling stream, they can limit the quality and future use of recycled materials. That is why material safety is becoming a fundamental part of sustainable packaging design.
For brand owners and packaging manufacturers, this means material selection is no longer only about performance and appearance. It is also about demonstrating compliance with evolving regulations and giving consumers confidence in the safety of the products they use every day.
At TotalEnergies Corbion, we welcome this direction. Our Luminy® PLA bioplastic has been developed with a strong focus on product safety and regulatory compliance. Luminy® PLA does not intentionally contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, or hexavalent chromium, nor PFAS. In addition to formulation verifications, analytical testing has demonstrated compliance with the concentration limits defined in PPWR Article 5.
Article 5 compliance, however, should be seen as a starting point rather than a destination. As PPWR continues to introduce new requirements, including recyclability and recycled-content targets, companies will need materials that can support both regulatory compliance and sustainability ambitions.
That is why we continue to invest in product stewardship, regulatory expertise, and innovation. We are also actively contributing to discussions around biobased content related to article 8 implementation and Design for Recycling guidelines for biodegradable plastics (Article 6), helping ensure a sustainable future for packaging made of PLA.
At TotalEnergies Corbion, we believe that our active monitoring of the PPWR implementation and our strong advocacy efforts is essential for Luminy® PLA to be part of the transition to a sustainable and circular packaging economy fulfilling the PPWR requirements.