EU sustainability regulations will increase burdens on ecommerce packaging, deliveries and returns

nShift encourages retailers and ecommerce businesses to sharpen deliveries, returns and emissions tracking, to be ready for new rules coming into force later this year.

nShift today warns ecommerce businesses they face growing regulatory pressure on the environmental impacts of delivery, returns and packaging. Two new EU measures, the Packaging and the Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and Directive 2024/825, come into force this year, introducing stricter requirements on delivery packaging and transparency around environmental claims.

The new rules will add to the burden on ecommerce businesses for managing and reporting on the environmental impact of deliveries, packaging and returns.

From August 2026, the PPWR sets targets for businesses to reduce packaging waste and improve its reuse. By 2030, businesses must ensure that at least 10% of delivery packaging is reused, while empty space (or “void space”) in shipping boxes must be below 50%. This will mean that businesses will need to redesign their returns approach to recover and reuse far more delivery packaging than currently.

Directive 2024/825 (better known as "The EmpCo Directive" or "The Empowering Consumers Directive") will apply from late September 2026. It updates existing consumer-protection laws, compelling businesses to make sure their environmental claims, including any related to carbon emissions, are clear and verifiable. The last mile is the most carbon-intensive stage in the supply chain. Retail Week/nShift research found that over half of consumers prefer to shop from brands which actively work to reduce their carbon footprints.

Regulation and customer expectations are moving in the same direction. Ecommerce businesses need to provide clear, verifiable data on emissions, especially in the last mile. Optimizing deliveries and returns processes to cover both customers’ purchases and their delivery packaging may also help minimize packaging waste. Those that move early will be better placed to stay compliant, control costs and meet rising customer expectations for more transparent, cleaner deliveries.

Fredrik Lindhagen, Product lead, sustainability at nShift

nShift helps businesses plan for the new regulations with confidence. Using its delivery and experience management platform businesses can streamline delivery and returns processes across their carrier networks.

nShift Emissions Tracker provides shipment-level emissions data, with methodology certified by the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) against ISO 14083 and the GLEC Framework. It enables businesses to make accurate, demonstrable claims to customers and regulators about their last-mile delivery emissions.