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Key facts about the packaging licence
A packaging licence is required for all businesses that make B2C packaging material available in Germany for the first time (Section 7 VerpackDG).
The packaging licence covers the costs of disposal and recycling for packaging material (Section 7 VerpackDG).
In addition to purchasing a packaging licence, registration with the Central Agency Packaging Register via the LUCID portal is required (Section 6 VerpackDG).
In addition to registering with LUCID, quantity reports must be submitted to LUCID regularly (Section 9 VerpackDG).
Failure to comply with the VerpackDG may result in costs of up to €200,000 and a sales ban for businesses (Section 66 VerpackDG).
What is a packaging licence?
A packaging licence is the legally required participation in a system (Section 7 VerpackDG) and payment of disposal costs for sales packaging. Germany applies the principle of extended producer responsibility: anyone who, as a “first distributor” (Section 3(17) VerpackDG), makes packaging material available in Germany (Section 3(3) VerpackDG) is required to contribute to the costs of collection, sorting and recycling. Businesses must therefore license packaging they make available that ends up with the end consumer.
The fees you pay for packaging licensing flow into a system (Section 3(8) VerpackDG) that ensures environmentally sound disposal and recovery. In every region, municipal waste-management companies collect packaging via yellow bins, yellow bags or paper-recycling collections.
After collection, packaging is sent to modern sorting facilities, where it is separated and processed according to material type and recyclability. The recyclable materials are then sent for recycling so that they can be used again in new products.
Who needs a packaging licence?
Under the VerpackDG, all businesses are required to license every item of packaging that they make available in Germany for the first time (Section 7 VerpackDG). This applies equally to manufacturers, importers, online retailers and brick-and-mortar retailers. Registration takes place through the LUCID portal of the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) (Section 6 VerpackDG). Once registration has been completed, participation in a system is required to ensure proper disposal and recycling of the packaging.
The VerpackDG distinguishes between packaging subject to system participation and packaging that is not subject to system participation. In both cases, packaging must be registered in the LUCID packaging register (Section 6 VerpackDG). However, the obligation to purchase a packaging licence applies only to packaging subject to system participation (Section 7 VerpackDG).
Packaging subject to system participation is packaging that typically becomes waste predominantly at private households or comparable places of origin and is disposed of through the system (Section 3(6) VerpackDG). Packaging not subject to system participation includes packaging that becomes commercial waste, export packaging or packaging that does not enter the market via private end consumers.
Apply for a packaging licence: how it works
The process of purchasing a packaging licence is easier than you might think and can be completed online quickly:
Register in the LUCID portal (Section 6 VerpackDG): To license packaging, you must first register with the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) in the LUCID portal. You provide your business details and receive an individual LUCID registration number.
License with a system (Section 7 VerpackDG): Once you have registered successfully with LUCID, your packaging material must be licensed. You report the type and quantity of the packaging you make available and pay the corresponding fees. At zmart.de, we offer an easy-to-use online calculator and packaging licensing.
Submit a data report in the LUCID portal (Section 9 VerpackDG): Finally, you must report the licensed packaging quantities in the LUCID portal of the ZSVR. This report ensures that you have fully fulfilled your obligations under the VerpackDG. The reported quantities must match those previously declared to the system.
Packaging licence for small businesses?
The obligation to obtain a packaging licence also applies to small businesses that make packaging available for the first time (Section 7 VerpackDG). In principle, the VerpackDG includes small businesses within its scope of obligation and only provides certain simplifications for them (Section 61 VerpackDG). In addition, small businesses must register with the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) in the LUCID portal (Section 6 VerpackDG) and participate in a system for their packaging (Section 7 VerpackDG). This process ensures that packaging is properly disposed of and recycled.
To make packaging licensing as simple and cost-effective as possible for small businesses, zmart.de offers a fast and easy online solution. A packaging licence is available from just €59 per year. This lets you license even very small quantities with us at low cost.
Advantages of online licensing
No time-consuming paperwork; all documents are sent by email.
Save time by using our service.
An online process without phone calls; customer service is available if you have questions.
Calculate prices independently, without waiting for quotations.
Minimal administrative effort, saving time and reducing stress.
Legally compliant licensing of small quantities fulfils the system participation obligation.
“Licensing on zmart.de is incredibly easy. At the same time, you benefit from our first-class customer service.”
