PPWR vs. VerpackG: how the two now fit together for online sellers
The German Packaging Act and the new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) apply in parallel. Who registers where, which obligations are new, and what to do first.
Two rulebooks, one goal
Since the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) entered into force, many sellers ask the same question: does the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) or the PPWR apply now? The answer is: both — they interlock. The VerpackG governs national registration and system participation in Germany; the PPWR adds EU-wide harmonised substantive requirements for the packaging itself.
What the VerpackG governs
The VerpackG requires anyone who first places filled packaging on the market in Germany to register in the LUCID packaging register, join a dual system, and report volumes. These obligations remain fully in place under the PPWR. The Packaging Act Extractor walks you through the concrete steps.
What the PPWR adds
As an EU regulation, the PPWR is directly applicable law and targets the packaging itself. Key novelties include recyclability of all packaging, minimum recycled-content shares in plastics, and packaging minimisation — including the 40% void-space limit for shipping and grouped packaging. The exact dates are set out in the PPWR deadlines overview.
The key differences at a glance
- Level: VerpackG = national registration & system participation; PPWR = EU-wide product requirements.
- Register: the VerpackG requires LUCID in Germany; the PPWR does not change that, and other EU countries have their own registers.
- Packaging design: recyclability, recycled content and the void-space limit are new with the PPWR.
- Scope: the VerpackG applies in Germany; the PPWR applies directly in all member states.
What sellers should do first
Secure the mandatory basis first: LUCID registration and system participation in each destination country — the country overview is in Packaging registers across Europe. In parallel, check your shipping packaging with the PPWR void-space calculator, because the 40% limit is often solvable with existing box sizes today. Practical approaches are in How to reduce void space.
Frequently asked questions
Does the PPWR replace the VerpackG?
No. The PPWR harmonises the substantive requirements for packaging EU-wide but does not replace the national registration and system-participation obligations. In Germany, LUCID registration and dual systems under the VerpackG remain in place.
Do I now have to register twice?
Not twice in Germany. You still register once in LUCID and join a dual system. If you also sell into other EU countries, national registration is added there — the PPWR does not create a single EU-wide register.
What is new and important in the PPWR for online sellers?
Above all, packaging minimisation with the 40% void-space limit for shipping packaging, plus requirements on recyclability and recycled content. For online sellers, box size is the most practical lever — it can be checked instantly with the void-space calculator.
When do the PPWR obligations apply?
The PPWR is in force; its requirements apply on a staggered basis over several years. The dates set out in the regulation text and delegated acts are decisive. Adjusting packaging design and the box range early is advisable.
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