FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to our most frequently asked questions. Do you have a question that’s not covered? Then don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

Our service

What service does LIZENZERO.EU offer?

LIZENZERO.EU is your platform for packaging licensing throughout Europe. What does that mean? We support you either with a sound brief analysis and the digital provision of a comprehensive, easy-to-understand action guide based on this, or through our full-service licensing service.

We take all the requirements of the EU Packaging Directive into account to ensure that you spend as little time and money as possible complying with them.

Can I carry out packaging licensing via LIZENZERO.EU directly?

That depends on which service you choose.
LIZENZERO.EU provides you with all the relevant information and processing instructions for your export countries within the framework of the action guides, so that you can easily carry out the packaging licensing yourself. In this way you are spared higher costs and a considerable amount of time for your own research into specifications.

If you choose the licensing service, where our experienced team for pan-European packaging licensing takes care of the compliance for you and is available for personal consultation, you no longer have to take action yourself.

For licensing packagings in Germany, you can also use our sister shop LIZENZERO.DE, where you can take care of your licensing in just a few steps and benefit from numerous additional services that will make it easier for you to comply with the German Packaging Act.

 

Does LIZENZERO.EU offer personalised legal advice for my particular situation?

No. We are legally prohibited from offering legal advice. Our service can therefore never be a substitute for the services of a lawyer. Our service aims to provide you with information, based on the details you provide, that allows you to ascertain what obligations arise for your company in your chosen export market and how to meet these obligations.

EU-wide packaging licensing

What does "packaging licensing" mean?

In Germany, the concept of packaging licenses or packaging licensing is based on the principle of product responsibility. The Packaging Act states that retailers and manufacturers who sell packaged products to consumers are responsible not just for the product itself but also for the packaging and its disposal and recycling. In order to comply with this responsibility, companies in Germany have to pay a fee to “license” their packaging in a dual system.

The licence fees are used to pay for the collection, sorting and recycling of the packaging, with the ultimate purpose of closing the material loop and reducing resource consumption.

The other EU countries have a similar system. What these systems all have in common is that they are based on the EU Packaging Directive. However, because their specific requirements, licensing procedures and fees vary greatly, they are not always easy to understand. LIZENZERO.EU helps you do this by breaking down the requirements into clear, easy-to-follow action points.

What legislation are the packaging licensing requirements in Europe based on?

The packaging licensing requirements of the various EU countries are based on the EU Packaging Directive (Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste, amended in 2018 by the Directive (EU) 2018/852). This regulates the EU-wide requirement to recycle packaging waste and forms the basis for the legislation passed by the individual Member States. In order to meet the EU’s packaging recycling targets, the Directive requires retailers and manufacturers to participate in a fee-based packaging recycling programme, i.e. to license their packaging.

Each member state decides for itself how to translate the Directive into national law. As a result, the requirements sometimes differ greatly from one country to the next. Additionally, most third countries outside the EU also have similar laws. Implementing the requirements can therefore be highly complex for retailers and manufacturers who export to several European countries.

What is household packaging?

Household packaging is the packaging that is used to contain or protect products supplied to consumers and is normally discarded after use. This includes not only product packaging but also shipping packaging and all of its components. In order to comply with their responsibility to ensure that the recyclable materials contained in their packaging are in fact recycled, vendors are required to license the packaging in each of their export markets.

What is commercial packaging?

Commercial packaging is packaging that is used when transporting goods to another distributor or manufacturer rather than to the end consumer (= B2B packaging). Some countries require the licensing of commercial packaging in addition to household packaging.

Larger quantities of waste material (e.g. building rubble or bulky refuse), however, are not subject to licensing requirements but must be recycled by the end user via a container service.

What sanctions can be expected if the licensing obligation is ignored?

There is no single answer to this question, because just as the requirements, licence fees and procedures vary, so do the sanctions for violations.

However, trade prohibitions, warnings and sometimes large fines (up to €200,000 in Germany and up to €7,500 per material fraction in France) are some of the penalties that can be expected. In some countries, courts can impose a prison sentence of several years.

Is there a minimum quantity before the regulations apply?

It varies from one country to the next. Minimum quantities do exist in some countries, while in others – such as Germany – the obligations apply right from the first package put on the market.

When you use our services, we show you clearly what regulations apply to which country.

Which distribution channels are affected by the European licensing obligations?

The Europe-wide legislation only affects direct distribution channels. Multi-level distribution channels (e.g. via intermediaries) are not considered. The originating company (the company that packs the product) is always responsible for licensing in each of its export markets.

What are the expected costs of licensing in the various countries?

There are sometimes substantial differences between countries in the cost of licence fees. The most important factors considered in calculating fees are the quantity of packaging and the materials used. There can also be costs for administrative agencies, processing, etc.

If you use our service, we will tell you what fees you can expect so that you can decide what to do based on accurate information. Please note that fees are subject to change (sometimes at short notice).

Your order

What are the differences between the individual action guide and the country packages and which one would be best suited to my needs?

Both of our country packages are modular and comprise the following three components, including our core service – the customised information overview in your account.

  1. Basic digital analysis:Our experts provide recommendations for action for each of your export countries based on the information you provide.
  2. Practical action guide to your export markets:You receive easy-to-understand instructions for each export country to guide you quickly and easily through your obligations.
  3. Your individual information platform:All your information, together with a practical to-do list and traffic light task status system, is clearly organised in your personal customer account, which you can access at any time.

You can choose the option that best suits your needs:

  1. a) Single Country:Select individual countries that you export to or plan to export to, and benefit from our low price per country!
    b) TOP 5 Package:Do you ship to several European countries? Then tick your five best export countries right now + save 40% compared with booking them individually.

What does the licensing service offer compared to the action guides?

Our licensing service offers you a completely worry-free package. Instead of carrying out licensing on your own using our action guides, which are particularly worthwhile when dealing with smaller volumes, our experienced team will provide you with comprehensive support for licensing your packaging throughout Europe. They’ll also advise you in detail on the individual steps you need to take and will be available at all times to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact us at any time to discuss this.

Is there a notice period with the action guides?

You are not subscribing to LIZENZERO.EU, so no cancellation is necessary. Your access is valid for one year, after which it expires automatically. You can order additional packages and/or export countries at any time.

Contact

Do you have any questions? You’re welcome to drop us a line