Glossary
Empty space ratio
Also called: empty space · void fill rules
What it means in practice
Two separate things get confused here. A limit on the ratio is coming later and depends on the European Commission settling how to measure it, while the ban on packaging that is bigger than it needs to be already applies.
The rules that give it meaning
The limit on empty space in boxes
No start date yetBusinesses that fill grouped, transport or e-commerce packaging will have to keep empty space to no more than half the box. This starts on 1 January 2030 or three years after the European Commission's method for measuring empty space takes effect, whichever comes later. The rules ask the Commission to adopt that method by 12 February 2028.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2025/40, Art. 24(1) and Art. 24(2) — read from this source on
Packaging built only to look bigger than it needs to be cannot be put on the market. The rules name double walls, false bottoms and unnecessary layers, and also set performance criteria packaging has to meet. This one has no later start date of its own, so it started with the rest of the rules on 12 August 2026. Two narrow exceptions exist. One covers a design or shape trademark protected before 11 February 2025, where meeting the rule would spoil what makes it distinctive. The other covers products with a protected geographical indication or under an EU quality scheme.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2025/40, Art. 10(2), read with Art. 71 — read from this source on
Commonly got wrong about this
Two different rules are being mixed up. One of them started with the rest of the rules and applies today; the other is the one with the 2030 date.