Royal Decree 1055/2022 on packaging and packaging waste

Royal Decree 1055/2022 of 27 December governs the management of packaging and packaging waste in Spain, transposing EU rules into national law.

Its purpose is to prevent and reduce the environmental impact of packaging throughout its life cycle, promoting prevention, reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery.

It is a key piece of legislation under the Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soil for a circular economy, and it transposes Directive 94/62/EC and its amendments (notably Directive (EU) 2018/852). Since 12 August 2026, however, EU packaging rules apply directly through the PPWR, which changes this decree's role, as explained below.

Main objectives

1. Prevent the generation of packaging waste.
2. Promote the reuse and recyclability of packaging.
3. Reduce the consumption of single-use packaging, especially plastic.
4. Improve separate collection and high-quality recycling.
5. Strengthen extended producer responsibility (EPR).

Scope of application

The Royal Decree applies to:

• All packaging placed on the Spanish market (household, commercial and industrial).
• All the economic operators involved: manufacturers, distributors, retailers, consumers and waste managers.

Main obligations

For producers and packers

• Registration in the Register of Producers of Products.
• Designing packaging according to ecodesign and recyclability criteria.
• Meeting reuse and recycling targets.
• Financing waste management through extended producer responsibility schemes.

For distributors and retailers

• Offering reusable alternatives in certain sectors.
• Providing clear information to consumers on packaging management.

For consumers

• Returning packaging through the available systems.
• Taking part in separate collection through bins and return systems.

Specific measures on plastics

Spanish law sets binding targets to separately collect single-use plastic bottles: 70% by 2023, 77% by 2025, 85% by 2027 and 90% by 2029 (by weight of the bottles placed on the market). If a target is missed nationally, a deposit return scheme must be introduced across the whole country within two years.

The deposit return scheme is now triggered

Spain did not reach the 70% target for 2023, with official figures putting separate collection at around 41%. That shortfall legally triggered the obligation to roll out a nationwide deposit return scheme (SDDR), whose legal deadline falls in November 2026.

The scheme covers single-use beverage packaging (plastic bottles up to 3 litres, cans and beverage cartons) and works through a refundable deposit that Spanish rules set at a minimum of 0.10 euros per container: consumers pay it at purchase and recover it when they return the empty container. The deadline is fixed, but several operational details (authorisation of scheme operators, logistics and return points) are still being settled, so it is worth tracking official announcements.

Packaging management systems

1. Collective extended producer responsibility schemes (SCRAP), such as Ecoembes (lightweight packaging) and Ecovidrio (glass).
2. Deposit return scheme (SDDR), triggered where collection targets are not met.
3. Individual systems, for companies that manage their own packaging under administrative authorisation.

Related legislation

• Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, largely repealed by the PPWR.
• Directive (EU) 2018/852, which amended it.
• Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soil.
• Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR), published in the Official Journal on 22 January 2025, in force since 11 February 2025 and generally applicable since 12 August 2026, with most of its substantive obligations binding from 2030.

How the PPWR changes the picture

Because the PPWR is a regulation, it applies directly in every member state without transposition. According to the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO), the PPWR prevails where it conflicts with national rules. Until Spain adopts new legislation aligned with the regulation, the applicable regime rests mainly on the PPWR and, on compatible points only, on Royal Decree 1055/2022. The decree therefore remains in force where it does not contradict the EU regulation, but its role is now subsidiary.

Expected benefits

Environmental

• Less littering in public spaces and natural areas.
• Higher recycling rates for plastic, metal and glass packaging.
• A boost to reuse in key sectors.

Economic

• Job creation in collection, recycling and reuse.
• Savings in street cleaning and waste management.
• Business opportunities in ecodesign and alternative materials.

Social

• Greater public awareness of responsible consumption.
• More confidence in waste management in Spain.

Link to the circular economy

Royal Decree 1055/2022 is one of the pillars of Spain's transition towards a circular economy: it prioritises prevention and reuse over recycling, introduces ecodesign and transparency obligations, and reinforces extended producer responsibility as a key tool.

For companies, it represents a challenge, as they must adapt to new obligations, but also an opportunity to innovate in materials, design and circular business models. For consumers, it opens the door to a more responsible model of consumption.

Manglai helps companies measure and manage their waste and packaging data and prepare their sustainability reporting under Spanish and EU rules.