PPWR in Austria: New Reporting Requirements for Coffee Capsules, Pads, and Tea Bags

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, or PPWR for short, will be phased in across all EU member states starting August 12, 2026. Among the first relevant changes are restrictions on certain substances, specific PFAS limits for food packaging, and requirements for technical documentation and proof of compliance. Existing Austrian requirements regarding the collection, recycling, and reporting of Packaging generally remain applicable during the transition period, provided they are compatible with the PPWR.

For distributors and manufacturers of coffee and tea products, there is an additional relevant change in Austria: Certain single-serving units that are used and disposed of together with the product are now expressly covered by the European definition of packaging.

Coffee capsules, coffee pods, and tea bags are now considered packaging

The legal basis for the established definition of packaging can be found in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2025/40: This explicitly states that permeable coffee or tea bags, as well as certain single-serve units for coffee or tea systems, are considered Packaging if they are used with the product and disposed of together with it.

As of August 12, 2026, these include, in particular:

• Capsules for coffee and tea
• Coffee and teapads
• Bags for coffee and tea (including any paper labels/tags, strings, and clips)

This new classification has immediate practical implications. As soon as these products are classified as Packaging, they are subject to licensing and reporting requirements under the Austrian Packaging Ordinance and must therefore be included in the volume report.

New Reporting Requirements: Who Is Affected, and When Must Quantities Be Reported?

This applies to companies that place such pre-filled single-serving units on the market in Austria for the first time. These include, in particular:

• Austrian manufacturers and brand owners,
• bottlers and packagers,
• importers who bring filled products from abroad into Austria.

Exception: In principle, there is no obligation if the foreign supplier has already properly licensed the Packaging. For shipments from abroad, it is therefore essential to verify who is fulfilling the Austrian obligation. Proof of prior licensing should be provided through a legally binding declaration from the supplier.

Although the new packaging classification takes effect on August 12, 2026, the relevant packaging volumes for coffee and tea products do not need to be reported until October 1, 2026.

Depending on the volume and, consequently, the applicable reporting interval, this results in the following initial reports:

• Monthly filers: First time in the October 2026 filing
• Quarterly filers: First in the fourth quarter of 2026
• Annual filers: Starting with the 2026 annual report

Important: For the 2026 reporting year, the volumes for the entire calendar year do not automatically need to be reported. The quantities placed on the market as of October 1, 2026, are decisive.

How are capsules, pads, and bags reported?

Currently, Austria does not yet have separate tariff categories for coffee or tea capsules, pods, and bags. Until the new categories are introduced, the quantities must be assigned to the existing household tariff categories.

The classification is based on the material and its composition.

• Aluminum coffee or tea capsules: Aluminum Household
• For plastic capsules, the plastic content is the deciding factor:
  • Plastic content of (at least) ≥95%: Household Plastic
  • Plastic content (less than) ≤ 95%: Composite material household waste
• Coffee and tea pads made of filter paper: Household paper
• Paper coffee or tea bags: Paper household items (including paper labels/tags, string, and clips)

The existing categories are based on the current legal and regulatory framework. The Austrian legislature is working on a comprehensive revision of the Waste Management Act (AWG). A specific effective date has not yet been set, but it is expected to take effect in 2028.

What weight must be reported?

Only the weight of the packaging must be reported. The coffee or tea contained within does not count toward the reportable packaging weight.

The packaging weight must be determined without the contents.

Summary: What Companies Should Specifically Do Now

1. Identify Your Product Portfolio
   Identify single-serve coffee and tea products in your product line that fall under the new packaging definition.
2. Clarify Responsibilities
   Determine who first places the filled products on the market in Austria and who is responsible for licensing.
3. Check Material Composition
   For each product variant, check whether the packaging is made of aluminum, plastic, paper, or a composite material.
4. Enter the weight without contents
   Determine the packaging weight without contents for each product variant.
5. Assign a rate category and submit a report
   Assign the packaging to the currently available household tariff category and include the quantities placed on the market as of October 1, 2026, in the respective reporting period.

Do you have questions about proper classification or reporting quantities?

Interzero can help you classify your packaging, select the correct rate category, and fulfill your reporting obligations in Austria.

Companies that are already fulfilling their obligations through Interzero should first check whether they place coffee or tea capsules, coffee pods, or tea or coffee bags on the market in Austria. If so, these quantities must be included in the existing tariff categories starting with the relevant reporting period.

If you have any questions, please use the contact options directly in the customer portal so we can provide you with specific assistance, or contact your personal representative.

Not yet working with Interzero? We’d be happy to work withyou to determine what obligations the PPWR imposes on you and how you can report your packaging volumes in compliance with the law. Please use the contact form below for this purpose.
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