EPR, PPWR & EU packaging compliance for B2B case importers 2026

# EPR, PPWR & EU packaging compliance for B2B case importers 2026 EU regulatory environment for protective case importers has fundamentally changed in 2026. Five major regulations now apply to virtually every B2B shipment: EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility), PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), REACH SVHC, SCIP database, and WEEE. This guide covers each regulation's requirements, deadlines, costs, and country-specific nuances. ## 1. EPR — Extended Producer Responsibility Every B2B importer of protective cases into the EU must register with the EPR authority of each member state where products are placed on the market. Kexin provides documentation but **registration is the importer's responsibility**. ### Germany — LUCID - Authority: Stiftung Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR) - Registration: lucid-packaging-register.de - Cost: EUR 50-200/year depending on packaging volume - Penalties for non-compliance: up to EUR 200,000 + sales ban - Required documents: brand owner name, packaging mass per year, recycling system participation - Kexin provides: packaging composition declaration (PP/ABS/aluminum + EPE foam + 5-layer carton) ### France — Citeo - Authority: Citeo (recycling system operator) - Registration: citeo.com - Cost: EUR 0.1-0.5 per kg packaging (eco-modulation adjustment) - Additional: signalétique Triman logo required on packaging - Annual declaration: January-March for prior year ### Spain — ECOEMBES - Authority: ECOEMBES (packaging) + RAEE-PILAS (WEEE) - Cost: EUR 0.05-0.30 per unit depending on material - Catalonia: additional ARC system (EUR 0.05/unit) - Annual declaration April-June ### Italy — CONAI - Authority: CONAI (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi) - Cost: EUR 5-15 per ton depending on material - Multiple consortia for specific materials (CICAL for aluminum, etc.) - Annual declaration March ### Netherlands — Afvalfonds - Authority: Afvalfonds Verpakkingen - Cost: EUR 0.65 per inhabitant per year (levy model) - Annual declaration May ## 2. PPWR — Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Effective February 2025, with full compliance required by 2030. ### Mandatory recycled content - 2030: 30% recycled plastic in contact-sensitive packaging (kosmetisch, pharma, food) - 2030: 65% recycled content in all other plastic packaging (i.e. our cases) - 2040: 50% (sensitive) / 80% (other) - Verification: ISO 14021 self-declaration + third-party audit (e.g. SCS Recycled Content) - Kexin offers: 35% rPP standard in 6-series, 50% r-aluminum standard in 8-series ### Design for recycling - Mono-material preferred (Kexin 6-series is mono-PP) - No problematic additives: oxo-degradable plastics, certain pigments banned from 2030 - All components >5% by mass must be separable ### Compostable claims (Kexin N/A — we don't make compostable cases) ## 3. REACH SVHC — Substances of Very High Concern ECHA candidate list updated 6-monthly. As of June 2026: - 247 substances on candidate list (up from 224 in January 2025) - Threshold: 0.1% w/w per article - Notification: SCIP database entry required if any SVHC > 0.1% - Kexin: all 247 tested < 0.01% (well below threshold), no SCIP notification needed for standard products - Special: bio-PP or custom colorants may have SVHC — case-by-case declaration ## 4. SCIP database Echa SCIP database (Substances of Concern In Products): - Mandatory for: any article placed on EU market with SVHC > 0.1% w/w - Voluntary: articles with SVHC < 0.1% (Kexin approach) - Format: SCIP number (UUID), submitted via ECHA portal - Kexin: voluntarily submits SCIP numbers for all 8-series, 6-series, 9-series products (transparency leadership) ## 5. WEEE — Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Applies to: protective cases that contain electrical components (e.g. smart cases with IoT sensors, see our smart-cases blog). ### German ElektroG - Stiftung EAR registration (stiftung-ear.de) - Cost: EUR 90-300/year depending on category - For smart cases with IoT: 1 WEEE registration per category (B2C and B2B combined) - Kexin pure mechanical cases: NOT subject to WEEE - Kexin smart cases: SUBJECT — provide WEEE-compliant part numbers ## Country-by-country registration summary | Country | EPR Authority | Cost (annual) | Deadline | |---------|---------------|---------------|----------| | Germany | LUCID (ZSVR) | EUR 50-200 | Rolling | | France | Citeo | EUR 100-1000 | January-March | | Spain | ECOEMBES | EUR 50-500 | April-June | | Italy | CONAI | EUR 50-300 | March | | Netherlands | Afvalfonds | Variable | May | | Belgium | Fost Plus | EUR 50-200 | January | | Austria | ARA | EUR 50-200 | March | | Sweden | FTI | EUR 50-200 | March | | Denmark | Dansk Retursystem | EUR 100-300 | January | | Poland | Rekopol | EUR 30-150 | March | | Czech Rep. | EKO-KOM | EUR 30-100 | January | | Ireland | Repak | EUR 50-200 | January | | Portugal | Novo Verde | EUR 50-200 | March | ## Kexin support for B2B importers We provide the following documentation for every shipment to EU: - Material composition declaration per case (PP/ABS/aluminum/foam percentages) - Recycled content declaration (post-consumer vs. pre-consumer) - Mass balance certificate (recycled input = recycled output) - CO2 footprint per case (A1-D stages) - SCIP number (voluntary for our products) - REACH SVHC test reports (semi-annual, all 247 substances < 0.01%) - ISO 9001:2015 + ISO 14001:2025 certificates - BSCI social compliance audit report - CE Declaration of Conformity per lot ## Bottom line EPR + PPWR + REACH + SCIP + WEEE compliance requires B2B importers to register in 10+ EU countries, maintain annual declarations, and keep documentation for 5 years. Kexin provides 90% of required documentation. We do NOT register for you (must be brand owner or importer of record). Budget EUR 1,000-3,000/year for EPR registration across 5-7 EU countries.