EU packaging rules (PPWR): what sellers need to know

EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) — What It Means for Selling on Whoppah

Since 12 August 2026 the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) applies in every EU country. It makes the party that ships a packaged item to a buyer responsible for the recycling of that packaging. This article explains what that means for selling on Whoppah. It is general information, not legal advice. If you are unsure whether the rules apply to you, check with the packaging authority in your country or a legal adviser.

Does this affect me as a private seller?

No. The rules only apply to packaging placed on the market as part of a commercial activity. If you sell your own furniture or design items as a private individual, you do not need to register anything and nothing changes for you.

Does this affect me as a business seller?

Yes, if you ship items to buyers in other EU countries. Under the PPWR, a business that ships a packaged item to a buyer in another EU country is treated as the producer of that packaging in the buyer's country. That means you need to be registered in the packaging register of each country you ship to, appoint an authorised representative for packaging there, and contribute to that country's recycling scheme. There is no central EU register, so each country has to be arranged separately.

The main schemes for the countries our sellers ship to most:

• Netherlands: Verpact (verpact.nl)
• Belgium: Fost Plus for household packaging, Valipac for commercial packaging
• Germany: the LUCID register of the Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (verpackungsregister.org), plus a contract with a dual system
• France: Citeo (citeo.com)

If you only sell to buyers in your own country, your national packaging rules still apply to you, but you do not need registrations abroad.

Selling to buyers in Germany

Germany requires every business that ships packaged items to consumers in Germany to be registered in the LUCID register, whether the business is based in Germany or elsewhere. There is no minimum volume: the duty starts with the first parcel. Registration in LUCID itself is free. You also need a contract with a dual system that licenses the packaging you ship, and you report those volumes in LUCID.

Does Whoppah register for me or pay the fees?

No. Whoppah is a marketplace and does not pack or ship your items, so the registration and the fees are your responsibility as the seller. Whoppah does not offer a collective scheme for this.

Can I exclude countries from my shipping?

Not at the moment. You are free to include the cost of packaging compliance in your asking price or your shipping costs.

Where can I find official information?

The packaging authority in your own country is the best starting point. In the Netherlands that is Verpact or the RVO, in Germany the Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister, in Belgium Fost Plus or Valipac, in France Citeo. Several compliance service providers can handle registrations in multiple countries for a fee.