AUTHOR
Daniel Vaknine
Co-founder – Compliance & Operations
Daniel is a co-founder of Gramta with a background in e-commerce and operations. He focuses on untangling complex regulatory frameworks like EU packaging rules, making compliance accessible to modern online sellers.
daniel@gramta.comArticles by Daniel Vaknine
- UK Plastic Packaging Tax: How to Register, Calculate and FileUK Plastic Packaging Tax is £228.82 per tonne from 1 April 2026. Learn the 10-tonne threshold, 30% recycled-content test and quarterly return process. · 6 min read
- Void Fill Under the PPWR: How to Choose It and Use LessUnder the PPWR, paper, air pillows and other void fill count as empty space. Learn how the 50% cap works and how to right-size e-commerce packaging. · 6 min read
- EPR Registration Deadlines in the EU: How Long Do You Have?Six EU markets put a numeric clock on EPR registration, from 14 days before your first sale to three months after. Twenty markets, eleven annual deadlines. · 9 min read
- EPR for eBay and Etsy Sellers: What Non-Amazon Marketplaces RequireEPR follows the seller, not the platform. eBay hides listings without your numbers, Etsy requires a French ID number, and your webshop has no gatekeeper. · 8 min read
- EPR in Greece: EMPA, EOAN & HERRCO feesSelling into Greece means registering in EMPA under EOAN and paying HERRCO packaging fees by material weight; several streams remain on paper only. · 7 min read
- EPR in Hungary: MOHU, OKIR & the REpont DRSSince 2023 Hungary routes packaging EPR through one MOHU concession: register in OKIR, appoint a representative, and mind the REpont deposit. · 7 min read
- EPR in Slovakia: RVVV Register & OZV SchemesSelling into Slovakia means entering the RVVV register with the MZP SR and joining an OZV such as ENVI-PAK or NATUR-PACK for packaging fees by material. · 7 min read
- PPWR Recyclability Grades A, B and C ExplainedPPWR grades packaging by recyclable weight: A is 95%+, B is 80%+, C is 70%+. Below 70% is banned from 1 January 2030, and Grade C itself is banned from 2038. · 5 min read
- EPR in Czech Republic: EKO-KOM & Seznam osobSelling into the Czech Republic means registering in Seznam osob and paying EKO-KOM fees by material - unless you stay under both 300 kg and CZK 25m a year. · 7 min read
- EPR in Finland: Tuottajarekisteri & RinkiFinland removed its EUR 1M packaging turnover threshold in 2024, so every distance seller now registers in the Tuottajarekisteri and pays Rinki fees. · 8 min read
- EPR in Ireland: Repak, PRL & the Re-turn DRSIreland's packaging EPR runs through Repak and keeps a major-producer threshold, while Producer Register Limited covers electricals, batteries and tyres. · 8 min read
- EPR in Portugal: SILiAmb & Ponto VerdeSelling into Portugal means registering in SILiAmb with APA, paying Sociedade Ponto Verde eco-value fees, and tracking new furniture EPR duties. · 7 min read
- EPR in the UK: pEPR, PackUK & RPD ReportingUK packaging pEPR is live: producers report through Report Packaging Data, PackUK sets the fees, and as a non-EU market the UK sits outside PPWR. · 9 min read
- EPR in Romania: AFM Fund, PROs & RetuROIn Romania, packaging producers report to the AFM Environmental Fund and hit recovery targets or pay its per-kilo contribution; RetuRO runs deposits. · 7 min read
- Reusable Packaging and the 2030 Checkout RuleFrom 1 January 2030, 40% of e-commerce transport packaging must be reusable and 10% of beverages sold in reusable packaging. Takeaway rules start Feb 2027. · 4 min read
- PPWR Recycled Content Targets for Plastic Packaging (2030 & 2040)From 2030 plastic packaging needs minimum post-consumer recycled content: 35% general, 30% bottles and PET contact-sensitive, 10% non-PET. More follows in 2040. · 4 min read
- EPR in Bulgaria: NISO, Ecopack or the Product FeeSelling into Bulgaria means NISO registration with the ExEA, then either a recovery-organisation fee or the higher state product fee per material. · 8 min read
- The EPR Compliance Checklist for Online SellersEPR compliance runs in eight steps per country: confirm you are the producer, register and join a PRO, collect weights by material, file on schedule, then pay. · 5 min read
- EPR in Croatia: FZOEU and the RPPOSelling into Croatia means registering in the RPPO and paying packaging fees straight to the FZOEU state fund, with returns filed every month. · 7 min read
- EPR in Lithuania: GPAIS, USAD & AR RulesSelling into Lithuania means filing every EPR stream through GPAIS with the AAA, and foreign sellers must appoint an authorised representative. · 7 min read
- EPR in Slovenia: ARSO, MOPE & SPOT RegistersSlovenia splits packaging EPR at ARSO and electronics and batteries at MOPE via the SPOT portal; foreign sellers file through a local representative. · 7 min read
- PPWR Restricted Substances: Heavy Metals and Article 5 LimitsPPWR Article 5 caps lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium at a combined 100 mg/kg, and restricts PFAS in food-contact packaging from 12 August 2026. · 4 min read
- How to Collect Packaging Data from Your Orders for EPRBuild a packaging spec per SKU: weigh each component in grams, multiply by units sold per country. Components under 5% report as the dominant material. · 4 min read
- EPR in Austria: EDM, ZAReg & the ARA LicenceSelling into Austria means registering in the EDM portal, joining a dual system like ARA, and appointing an authorised representative if based abroad. · 7 min read
- EPR in Belgium: Fost Plus, Valipac & IVC/CIEBelgium splits packaging EPR between Fost Plus (household) and Valipac (commercial), coordinated by IVC/CIE, with separate WEEE and battery duties. · 9 min read
- EPR in Denmark: The DPA & New Packaging RulesDenmark's packaging EPR reached full financial responsibility on 1 October 2025: sellers register with Dansk Producentansvar (DPA) via virk.dk. · 7 min read
- EPR in Italy: CONAI, CAC Fees & the RENAP RegisterPackaging EPR in Italy runs through the CONAI consortium and its per-material CAC fee, while electronics, batteries and tyres register through RENAP. · 7 min read
- EPR in the Netherlands: Verpact, UPV & 2026 RulesPackaging EPR in the Netherlands: Verpact fees, the Rijkswaterstaat UPV registers, and the distance-seller exemption ending in August 2026. · 8 min read
- EPR in Poland: BDO Registration & Packaging FeesSelling into Poland means securing a BDO registration number before your first order, then reporting every packaging and product stream through it. · 8 min read
- EPR in Spain: Ecoembes, RPP Register & AR RulesPackaging EPR in Spain: the Ecoembes/Ecovidrio eco-contribution, the RPP producer register, and the zero-threshold rule for foreign sellers. · 9 min read
- Transport Packaging & PPWR: Rules for B2B and Pallet WrappingPPWR requires 40% of transport packaging reusable by 2030 and 70% by 2040. Intra-company transport needs 100%, though pallet wrap and straps were exempted. · 4 min read
- EPR in France: Citeo, IDU & the Triman LabelFrance routes packaging EPR through Citeo and an ADEME-issued IDU number, with the Triman label mandatory on the box. What online sellers must do. · 8 min read
- EPR in Germany: LUCID, VerpackG & Dual SystemsGermany's VerpackG sets no threshold - register in LUCID with the ZSVR and pay a dual-system licence before your first sale, or risk blocked listings. · 8 min read
- EPR in Sweden: Report Packaging to NaturvårdsverketPackaging EPR in Sweden runs through Naturvårdsverket's Producentansvarsregistret and approved PROs like NPA and TMR, with no minimum threshold. · 8 min read
- How Are EPR Packaging Fees Calculated?EPR fees are weight of material x base fee per material x recyclability factor. How rates, eco-modulation and national price lists change your bill. · 4 min read
- EPR Software: Automate Packaging ReportingEPR reporting software turns store orders into packaging reports: it maps orders to packaging presets, aggregates weights and keeps an audit trail. · 5 min read
- The PPWR 50% Empty Space Ratio: How to Measure and ComplyPPWR Article 24 caps empty space at 50% of box volume from 1 January 2030. Void fill counts as empty space; Article 10 minimisation applies 12 August 2026. · 4 min read
- How to Prove Packaging Recyclability Under the PPWRAssess packaging against Design for Recycling criteria and record the grade in your Annex VII file. A is 95%, B 80%, C 70%; below 70% is banned from 2030. · 4 min read
- Who Signs the PPWR Declaration of Conformity and How to Do ItThe legal manufacturer, or their EU authorised representative, signs the PPWR Declaration of Conformity. If your brand is on the packaging, that is you. · 5 min read
- What Is an EPR Number & How to Get One (2026)An EPR number is the registration code a national authority issues for packaging compliance. Normally free, verified by marketplaces, and one per country. · 4 min read
- How to Collect PPWR Technical Documentation from Your Packaging SuppliersTreat PPWR technical documentation as procurement: inventory components, request heavy-metal and PFAS tests, get recycled-content data, keep 5-10 years. · 5 min read
- Who Must Register for EPR? Producer Rules ExplainedAlmost every cross-border e-commerce merchant must register for EPR. You are a producer if you manufacture, pack, import, or distance-sell into a market. · 5 min read
- PPWR Compliance for Importers: Buying Packaged Goods from Outside the EUPPWR importers must verify the manufacturer's conformity assessment, collect a signed Declaration of Conformity per packaging type, and retain it 5-10 years. · 3 min read
- Who is the Legal "Manufacturer" Under PPWR? (Hint: It Might Be You)Under PPWR the manufacturer is whoever puts their name or trademark on packaging: usually the brand, not the factory. It owns the technical file and DoC. · 5 min read
- EPR vs PPWR: The Difference Explained (2026)EPR is the principle that makes you pay for packaging waste. PPWR is the binding EU regulation, applicable 12 August 2026, that dictates packaging design. · 4 min read
- PPWR Explained: EU Packaging Regulation 2026The PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40) applies from 12 August 2026 and binds all 27 member states identically: packaging design, recyclability and labelling. · 4 min read
- What Is EPR? Extended Producer Responsibility ExplainedExtended Producer Responsibility makes whoever first places packaging on a market pay to recycle it. Register per country, join a PRO, report by material. · 4 min read
Glossary terms by Daniel Vaknine
- Reporting & auditsAdministrative Fines (VerpackG)An administrative fine under the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) is a formal financial penalty issued to businesses that fail to register, accurately report, or pay for the recycling of their packa...
- EPRAuthorised Representative (EPR/PPWR)An authorised representative is a legal entity appointed to act on behalf of a foreign producer in a European country where that producer has no local corporate presence, handling registration, dat...
- E-wasteBatt-Reg.-Nr. DEThe Batt-Reg.-Nr. DE is the official registration number issued by the German national register to merchants placing batteries on the market.
- E-wasteBattery Take-Back SystemA battery take-back system is a physical and administrative network funded by electronics producers, enabling consumers to return their depleted power cells for safe recycling.
- Registers & countriesCalifornia SB 54 (Plastic Pollution Prevention Act)California SB 54 is a state law establishing extended producer responsibility for packaging and single-use plastic food serviceware.
- Registers & countriesChasing Arrows Symbol Ban (California)The California chasing arrows symbol ban, formally established by SB 343, is a state law prohibiting manufacturers from displaying the universal recycling symbol on products or packaging unless the...
- MaterialsCorrugated Board Shipping CartonA corrugated board shipping carton is a multi-layered paper-based packaging format featuring at least one fluted layer, widely used for e-commerce deliveries.
- Fees & thresholdsDe Minimis Rules (EPR)A de minimis rule in extended producer responsibility is a volume, weight, or revenue limit below which a business is exempt from some reporting duties or fees.
- Reporting & auditsDeclaration of Completeness (VE) AuditA declaration of completeness (VE) audit is a legally mandated, independent verification process required under German packaging law.
- EPRDrop-Shipper Liability (VerpackG)Drop-shipper liability under the German Packaging Act refers to the legal principle that online merchants cannot outsource their environmental compliance duties.
- Registers & countriesDual SystemA dual system is Germany's commercial packaging recovery framework, requiring obligated producers to contract with a private operator to finance the collection, sorting, and recycling of their hous...
- Fees & thresholdsEco-ModulationEco-modulation is a fee mechanism that adjusts Extended Producer Responsibility charges according to the environmental performance of packaging, rewarding recyclable designs and penalising hard-to-...
- E-wasteElektro- und Elektronikgerätegesetz (ElektroG)The Elektro- und Elektronikgerätegesetz (ElektroG) is the German federal law governing the disposal and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment.
- EPRExtended Producer Responsibility (EPR)Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy principle that shifts the cost and operational burden of end-of-life waste management from municipalities and taxpayers onto the businesses that p...
- EPRFree-RiderA free-rider is a company that places goods on a regulated market without registering or paying its statutory recycling fees, unfairly avoiding the environmental costs that compliant competitors ca...
- Registers & countriesGerman Packaging Act (VerpackG)The, is the federal law behind the LUCID packaging register and the dual-system obligation.
- EPRHousehold PackagingHousehold packaging is any packaging that typically ends up as waste in private residential households, as opposed to commercial or industrial settings.
- Registers & countriesLUCID Packaging Register (Germany)The LUCID Packaging Register is Germany's mandatory public packaging-compliance database, operated by the Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR). Registration applies from the first gram - befo...
- EPRMarketplace Gatekeeper Liability (EPR)Marketplace gatekeeper liability refers to environmental rules that hold online platforms legally responsible if their third-party sellers skip compliance obligations.
- MaterialsMono-Material PackagingMono-material packaging is constructed entirely from a single material stream, such as pure paper or one specific plastic polymer.
- Registers & countriesMulti-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM)Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) is the designated producer responsibility organisation managing the recovery of packaging and printed paper in the Canadian province of Manitoba, ensuring...
- PPWRPackaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is the binding European Union law that replaces the packaging directive and applies from 12 August 2026. It sets strict rules on packaging design...
- Registers & countriesPackaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR UK)Packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) is the United Kingdom's regulatory framework that makes businesses financially responsible for the full cost of managing household packaging waste,...
- Reporting & auditsPackaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN)A Packaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN) is a certified documentary proof demonstrating that a specific tonnage of packaging waste has been officially recovered and recycled.
- Fees & thresholdsPackaging Weight Threshold (EPR)A packaging weight threshold is the specific tonnage or kilogram limit set by environmental regulators that dictates when a merchant must officially register, report data, or pay financial tariffs...
- E-wastePortable Batteries (EPR)Extended producer responsibility for portable batteries requires merchants to finance the collection and recycling of the power cells they place on the market, ensuring toxic chemicals and valuable...
- MaterialsPost-Consumer Recycled (PCR) PlasticPost-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic is material recovered from packaging and products already used by consumers or businesses, reprocessed into secondary raw material for new packaging.
- PPWRPPWR Article 29 (Re-use targets)PPWR Article 29 establishes binding quotas that require a specific share of certain packaging, such as transport materials and beverage containers, to be reusable or refillable rather than single-u...
- EPRProducer Responsibility Organisation (PRO)A Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) is an approved collective body that producers pay to organise the collection, sorting, recycling, and reporting of their packaging waste under national...
- Registers & countriesResource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) OntarioThe Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority is the regulatory body mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce circular economy legislation and oversee the province's transition to a comp...
- Reporting & auditsStatutory Enforcement (VerpackG)Statutory enforcement under the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) refers to the strict legal and administrative mechanisms used by national authorities to ensure businesses accurately register, repor...
- E-wasteStiftung EARThe stiftung elektro-altgeräte register (stiftung ear) is the German national clearing house and regulatory authority for electronic waste.
- Fees & thresholdsUK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT)The UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) is a national tax of £217.85 per tonne (from 1 April 2024) on manufactured or imported plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic.
- Fees & thresholdsUK PPT Registration ThresholdThe UK PPT registration threshold is the strict 10-tonne legal limit that dictates when a business must formally register with the national tax authority to declare the finished plastic packaging i...
- E-wasteWaste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive 2012/19/EUThe Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2012/19/EU is the European legal framework that mandates the separate collection, treatment, and recovery of discarded electronics, sh...
- E-wasteWEEE Manufacturer's Authorised Representative (AR)A WEEE authorised representative is a designated legal entity situated within a specific destination market, formally appointed by a foreign manufacturer or merchant to take on their statutory envi...
- E-wasteWEEE Take-Back Concept (Germany)A WEEE take-back concept is a mandatory logistical plan submitted to the German environmental authorities, detailing how a producer of professional electrical and electronic equipment intends to ph...
- E-wasteWEEE-Reg.Nr. (Germany)A WEEE-Reg.Nr. is a unique eight-digit registration number issued by the German authorities, proving a merchant is legally authorised to place electrical and electronic equipment on the market unde...