EU caps e-commerce box empty space at 50% by 2030, targeting oversized packaging

EUROPE – The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation has introduced a maximum empty space limit of 50 percent for e-commerce packaging by 1 January 2030, counting all filler materials including air cushions, bubble wrap, foam, and paper padding as empty space, effectively banning oversized boxes filled with void-fill.

The regulation, effective from 12 August 2026, applies to online retailers, fulfilment centres, and logistics providers.

Early discussions included a stricter 40 percent threshold, but the final framework settled on 50 percent.

The European Commission is expected to publish harmonised methods for calculating empty space ratios by February 2028.

What Counts as Empty Space

The regulation introduces a clear definition: any unoccupied volume inside a package, including filler materials such as air cushions, bubble wrap, foam, and paper padding, counts as empty space.

This means common void-fill solutions will be treated as empty space rather than protective material, forcing a fundamental redesign of how e-commerce orders are packed.

The PPWR also restricts double walls, false bottoms, and similar structures that create a misleading impression of volume.

Right-Sizing Becomes Compliance

For many businesses, the rules will require a shift toward right-sized packaging.

Technologies such as 3D scanning and automated box-making systems are expected to play a growing role in matching packaging size to product dimensions.

Industry analysts note that while initial investment may be required, right-sizing can lower shipping costs by reducing dimensional weight charges, cut material use, and support both cost efficiency and sustainability targets.

Exemptions and Transition

Some exemptions apply. Packaging may exceed the empty space threshold where additional volume is necessary to protect goods during transport.

Certain designs linked to legally protected trademarks or product-specific requirements may also be excluded if registered before the rules take effect.

The regulation builds on the existing EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, tightening controls on over-packaging in response to the growth of e-commerce and rising packaging waste volumes.

The Packaging Paradigm Shift

For the global packaging industry, the PPWR sends an unmistakable signal: reducing empty space in e-commerce packaging is moving from voluntary best practice to regulatory requirement.

The days of a small product rattling inside a cavernous box filled with air pillows are numbered. By 2030, every shipment will need to prove that its volume is earned, not inflated.

For converters and logistics providers, the clock is ticking, and the tape measure is watching.

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