Packaging regulations, market by market

UK pEPR requires producers to report packaging placed on the market twice a year through the RPD service, broken down by material, weight, packaging level and intended use. Recyclability is classified red, amber or green using the Defra and PackUK Recyclability Assessment Methodology, and that classification drives modulated fees.

Plastic Packaging Tax applies to individual plastic packaging components containing less than 30% recycled content by weight. The assessment is per component rather than per product, and the recycled content figure has to be traceable to supplier evidence.

PPWR (Regulation 2025/40) has applied since 12 August 2026, covering the Declaration of Conformity, PP01 to PP12 material identification, PFAS limits in food-contact packaging, authorised representatives and packaging minimisation. Further obligations phase in, including harmonised sorting labels from August 2028 and recyclability grades from 2030.

Germany requires registration in the LUCID packaging register and declaration of volumes per VerpackG material code, submitted as XML. Fees are set by dual system operators and are tied to the ZSVR minimum standard for recyclability, which has been in force longer than most equivalent assessments in Europe.

CITEO requires component level declarations per conditional sales unit, submitted as CSV, with a separate household and commercial split. France operates the most explicit eco-modulation in Europe: recyclability earns a bonus, disrupting materials attract a malus, and the schedule is published so the financial effect of a design choice can be looked up.

Fost Plus collects packaging declarations through the MyFost portal, using its own material categories and volume bands. Recyclability is assessed against the Fost Plus Design for Recycling criteria, which is a separate methodology from the German, French and UK assessments applied to the same component.

Ecoembes takes packaging declarations as an Excel upload split across seven tabs, each covering a different part of the data set. Recyclability work in Spain runs through TheCircularLab, which is a separate methodology from those applied in Germany, France and the UK.

CONAI takes declarations through online forms rather than a file upload, and applies fee bands that differ by material. Paper and board recyclability in Italy is assessed against ATICELCA 501, which is a separate methodology from the assessments applied to the same component elsewhere.

Verpact takes weight-based packaging declarations through the PackTool. Recyclability in the Netherlands is assessed against the KIDV methodology, which is tied to the Verpact scheme and is distinct from the German, French and UK assessments.

ARA takes packaging declarations through the ARA Connect portal, using its own material classification. Recyclability is assessed against ARA Circular Design, which is an Austrian methodology rather than a version of the German assessment next door.