Frequently Asked Questions

All data is hosted on Microsoft Azure UK West, ensuring compliance with UK data residency requirements.

Yes. While UK hosting is the default, we can accommodate specific regional hosting requirements for enterprise customers. Contact us to discuss your needs.

Merchant Packaging uses a multi-tenant architecture with strict data isolation between tenants. Each organisation's data is logically separated and access-controlled at every layer.

We target 99.9% uptime. The platform is available around the clock, with scheduled maintenance windows communicated in advance.

Yes. We support SSO with Microsoft Entra ID (OpenID Connect), allowing your team to authenticate using existing corporate credentials. We do not support SAML.

Data is encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2+ and at rest using AES-256 encryption. Secrets and keys are managed through Azure Key Vault. We follow OWASP security best practices throughout.

Absolutely. Suppliers can only access declarations and data specifically assigned to them. They cannot see other suppliers' data, your internal analytics, or any other tenant's information.

Yes. Multi-factor authentication is on for everyone: a one-time code by email on every password sign-in. Organisations using single sign-on can require it.

We maintain comprehensive audit logs of all data changes, user actions, and system events. These logs are available for compliance review and can be exported as needed.

The platform generates scheme-specific outputs for the UK (pEPR/RPD, Plastic Packaging Tax, PRNs and the Supplier Data Hub), France (CITEO), Germany (LUCID), Italy (CONAI) and the EU-wide PPWR Declaration of Conformity. Each export uses the format and material categories the scheme requires. It does not produce outputs for other schemes, such as Ireland (Repak), Belgium (Fost Plus), Spain (Ecoembes), the Netherlands (Verpact) or Austria (ARA).

What each scheme requires, market by market

Yes. Merchant tracks recycled content percentages at the component level against the 30% threshold and produces a Plastic Packaging Tax exposure report from them.

The platform generates the biannual H1 and H2 submissions in the CSV format the RPD service requires. It records a recyclability grade per component and applies red, amber or green ratings in UK reports.

Full UK pEPR requirements, data and fees

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Reg. 2025/40) has applied since 12 August 2026. Merchant generates the Declaration of Conformity document, maps components to PP01-PP12 codes, derives the correct JRC sorting label from component attributes, and tracks recycled content with the null vs zero distinction required for regulatory accuracy.

What PPWR requires, and what phases in next

Yes. The platform estimates UK EPR fees from material category, weight and red, amber or green rating, and applies eco-modulation bonus and malus rules in the France and Germany declarations. This supports budgeting and design-for-recyclability decisions.

Our regulatory team monitors upcoming changes continuously. The platform's configurable data model means validation rules, required fields, and reporting formats can be adapted to new requirements within weeks.

Not on packaging as such. The Digital Product Passport comes from the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, which applies to designated product groups, and packaging is not one of them - so there is no packaging DPP deadline. PPWR has its own digital requirement: the Article 12 data carrier behind the harmonised label, from 12 August 2028, resolving to material composition, recyclability, recycled content, substances of concern and sorting instructions. Merchant holds the data either route needs - material composition coded to PP01-PP12, a recyclability grade per component, recycled content, and the derived sorting label - all exposed via JSON API.

Yes. The platform tracks post-consumer recycled (PCR) content at the component level, comparing actual percentages against jurisdiction-specific targets. The EU PPWR mandates 30% PCR in plastic beverage bottles by 2030, rising to 65% by 2040.

PPWR Article 12 requires consumer-facing pictograms on all packaging from August 2028, telling consumers which waste stream to use. There are 20 labels across 10 material groups, defined by the JRC (JRC141706). Merchant derives the correct label automatically from each component's material code, format, rigidity, glass colour, composite type, compostability, and hazardous waste flag. The system displays the label code and a reference image for artwork teams. Labels are always derived, never manually set.

How sorting labels fit the wider PPWR timeline

The platform records a recyclability grade per component, with the basis it rests on and its assessment and expiry dates, and applies red, amber or green ratings in UK reports.

Yes. The platform captures the data fields needed for packaging carbon footprint calculation. There is no mandatory EU deadline for this yet - the Green Claims Directive is under review by the Commission - but the data structure is in place and ready to support reporting when requirements are finalised.

Operational data is retained for the duration of your subscription plus 90 days. Regulatory submission data is retained for the legally required period (typically 7 years for tax-related records). You can request earlier deletion of non-regulatory data.

Yes. You can export all your data at any time in standard formats (CSV, Excel, JSON). Upon contract termination, your data remains available for export for 90 days.

Uploaded documents and certificates are stored in Azure Blob Storage. Each file is linked to the relevant packaging component or product for full traceability.

Yes. Bills of materials and documents are versioned, and the audit log records who changed what and when.

The supplier portal is designed to be intuitive and self-service. Suppliers receive a guided onboarding flow when they first log in. Most suppliers complete their first declaration without any training.

No. You can invite unlimited supplier users at no additional cost. Each supplier organisation can have multiple users with appropriate role-based access.

Yes. Supplier declaration requests send reminders on a schedule you set - before the due date, on it and on the closing date - and track each supplier's progress.

Yes. Suppliers can upload packaging data via Excel templates or CSV files for bulk submissions. The platform validates uploaded data against the same rules as manual entry.

Yes. Merchant Packaging provides a REST API, API clients and webhooks for integration with ERP, PLM and other enterprise systems, alongside CSV and Excel import and export of your master data.

API access is included in all plans. Full API documentation is available, and our team can support your integration project from scoping through to go-live.

Yes. The platform sends signed webhook notifications when components, SKUs, suppliers, vendors, documents, declarations and Declarations of Conformity change. This enables real-time integration with your existing workflows.

The platform generates EPR submissions, Plastic Packaging Tax exposure reports and Declarations of Conformity in the formats required by regulators. Reports are generated on demand.

Yes. The platform tracks recycled content percentages, packaging weight trends, material composition breakdowns, and estimated environmental impact metrics across your portfolio.

Yes. Document approval runs through set review steps, each routed to the people you choose, and documents uploaded by suppliers can go through an approval step before they count as evidence.

Merchant Packaging is licensed on an annual subscription basis, priced by the number of SKUs or product ranges managed. Contact us for a tailored quote based on your portfolio size.

We include a standard onboarding package with every subscription, covering platform setup, data migration support, and initial training. Enterprise onboarding packages with dedicated support are also available.

Yes. Suppliers access the platform at no cost. There are no per-supplier fees. This removes friction from supplier onboarding and encourages participation.