Packaging fees & rates at Verpact — what you need to know
Anyone placing packaged products on the Dutch market is subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR). Implementation and proof run through Verpact — the fee charged is the Afvalbeheerbijdrage (waste management contribution).
What is the PPWR (EU Packaging Regulation)?
The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) is the new set of rules, directly applicable EU-wide, to reduce packaging waste. It replaces the previous Packaging Directive with a Regulation — meaning the requirements apply directly in every member state, without national transposition. Key changes concern uniform labelling requirements, rising recycled-content quotas, a ban on certain single-use packaging, and stricter rules against excessive packaging (empty-space ratio).
For companies without a branch in the relevant EU country, the PPWR means one thing above all: the obligation to appoint an authorised EPR representative on the ground. In the Netherlands, extended producer responsibility is implemented through the Verpact system. This is exactly where PPWR-Ready comes in: for German companies that export to the Netherlands and have no branch of their own there, we act as your authorised representative towards Verpact.
A detailed account of the PPWR — obligations, deadlines, affected roles and the data companies need to record — is available on the page PPWR explained (in German).
Uniform symbols for material type and disposal route — mandatory at the latest from 12 Aug 2028 (PPWR Art. 12).
Rising mandatory shares of recycled material in plastic packaging — exact percentages will follow via delegated acts of the EU Commission.
For grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging the empty space ratio must not exceed 50% (Art. 24(1) PPWR).
Mandatory registration and reporting via an authorised representative in every target market.
A PFAS ban in food-contact packaging also applies from the date of application; micro-enterprises (Recommendation 2003/361/EC) are exempt from the reuse targets as soon as they have additionally placed no more than 1,000 kg of packaging on the market in that Member State in the calendar year concerned — this exemption applies directly and per calendar year (PPWR Art. 29(13)). It must not be confused with the option under Art. 29(14): Member States may exempt economic operators for five years under further conditions. Source for the regulation texts: EUR-Lex.
How are Verpact fees calculated?
The polluter-pays principle applies: whoever places harder-to-recycle or more environmentally burdensome packaging on the market pays more. The total cost consists of three building blocks.
Glass, paper/cardboard, plastics, metal and wood each have their own per-kilo price — based on real collection, sorting and recycling costs.
A per-kilogram contribution for general system and monitoring costs, such as monitoring and litter prevention.
Additional contributions for single-use plastic (SUP) and deposit-liable packaging (Statiegeld).
Registration duty at Verpact: three criteria decide
According to Verpact's own registration form, registration is currently required as soon as one of the following three criteria applies: you place more than 50,000 kg of packaging material per year on the Dutch market, or you place SUP packaging (single-use plastic) on the market, or you place deposit-liable (DRS) packaging such as plastic bottles or cans on the market. If none of these apply, no registration is currently required. The 50,000 kg threshold ends when the PPWR producer register starts, which Verpact dates to 12 Aug 2027 at the earliest — the SUP and deposit criteria are unaffected by this.
Then, according to Verpact, no registration is currently required — neither reporting nor payment. This can change quickly, though, as soon as one of the three criteria first applies, e.g. with growing volume or new deposit products.
Regardless of material, as soon as the total volume of your NL packaging exceeds 50,000 kg in the calendar year.
Beverage cups, certain carrier bags & similar trigger the obligation regardless of total volume.
Deposit-liable plastic bottles and cans also trigger the obligation regardless of total volume.
Even if none of the three criteria currently applies, it's advisable to document packaging and volumes on an ongoing basis — so you have solid figures ready in case of an audit or a threshold change. That's exactly what our software is built for.
Overview of material rates
Rates vary significantly based on environmental impact and recyclability. Paper, glass and wood are low because established, low-cost recycling loops exist. For plastic, Verpact strictly distinguishes between rigid, flexible and unspecified material — films and mixed plastics carry the highest base rates.
Beverage cartons and aluminium are subject to adjusted rates — due to rising statutory recycling quotas and complex separation processes.
Discounts & bonuses: design for recycling pays off
Verpact financially rewards sustainably designed packaging — via two mechanisms.
Cascading discount: well-recyclable plastic gets significant discounts on the base rate.
Using post-consumer recyclate — i.e. plastic recycled from household waste — is rewarded with a discount per kilogram used. Verpact raised this bonus in 2025 from 10 to 20 cents/kg.
Reusable packaging in the pool
When reusable packaging is added to the pool for the first time, only the pure system contribution applies.
The number of annual cycles must be reported to Verpact, but costs nothing.
SUP surcharge and deposit (Statiegeld)
For products under the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive — such as single-use beverage cups or light plastic bags under 50 microns — Verpact charges a flat additional contribution.
Producer contributions and deposit money are handled bundled via Verpact to Statiegeld Nederland.
The reporting process at a glance
Forecast of expected volumes for the current year in the Verpact portal (formerly Packtool).
Reporting the volumes actually placed on the market by 1 April of the following year.
The difference between the estimate and the actual volume is offset or refunded.
Frequently asked questions about the PPWR, packaging regulation & EPR representative
What is the PPWR (EU Packaging Regulation)?
The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) is the new EU regulation to reduce packaging waste. As a regulation, it applies directly in all member states and replaces the previous Packaging Directive. It unifies labelling requirements, raises recycled-content quotas, and requires companies without a local branch to appoint an EPR representative.
Who needs an EPR representative?
Every company without a branch in the relevant EU country that places packaged goods on that market — e.g. via Amazon, eBay or its own online shop — must appoint an authorised EPR representative on the ground. This representative handles registration, volume reporting and fee payment towards the respective national system.
What is the difference between the PPWR, packaging regulation and packaging act?
PPWR and EU Packaging Regulation refer to the same EU-wide framework. Nationally, extended producer responsibility is implemented on that basis: in Germany via the Packaging Act (VerpackG) and LUCID, in the Netherlands via Verpact. PPWR-Ready is your authorised representative in both countries. In the Netherlands we also handle the Verpact registration. In Germany, only the producer may perform the LUCID registration (section 9 in conjunction with section 35 (2) sentence 1 VerpackG) — we guide you through it and then take over all remaining obligations (system participation, data reporting under section 10, declaration of completeness under section 11).
From when do the new PPWR requirements apply?
The PPWR is already in force EU-wide. The individual requirements — e.g. on labelling, recycled-content quotas and registration duties — become effective in stages until 2030, with a significant portion already in the near term. Since deadlines vary by requirement and national implementation, we recommend an individual review of your product categories.
What happens if I don't register with Verpact?
The reporting and payment obligation arises from the Dutch Besluit beheer verpakkingen. Compliance is monitored by the ILT (Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport); violations can lead to orders and a retroactive declaration including fees for past periods. In addition, major marketplaces such as Amazon increasingly require proof of compliance before listings in the Netherlands are enabled. We therefore recommend timely registration.
What counts as "placing on the market" in the Netherlands?
Anyone who makes packaging available on the Dutch market for the first time is considered a producer. This includes shipping from a German warehouse to Dutch end customers — via your own online shop, marketplaces such as Amazon.nl or bol.com — as well as goods handled through a fulfilment warehouse in the Netherlands.
Besides a packaging representative, do I also need one for electronics or batteries?
Yes — extended producer responsibility in the Netherlands is organised separately per product category. Verpact is responsible for packaging, Stichting OPEN for electrical and electronic equipment and batteries. If you place electronics or batteries on the market in addition to packaging, you need separate registration for those. PPWR-Ready currently covers only packaging representation via Verpact.
How long does registration with Verpact take?
After submitting the required company data, initial registration in the Verpact portal usually takes a few business days. After that, the ongoing reporting duty begins with the annual estimate (Opgaaf) at the start of the year and the definitive declaration (Aangifte) by 1 April of the following year.
Is there still a volume threshold at Verpact?
Yes, but only for a limited time: according to Verpact's own registration form, registration is only required if you place more than 50,000 kg of packaging material per calendar year on the Dutch market, or SUP packaging, or deposit-liable (DRS) packaging such as plastic bottles or cans. If none of that applies, no registration is currently required. The 50,000 kg threshold exempts you from registration, reporting and fees alike; the first 50,000 kg remain free of charge even above it. It ends when the PPWR producer register starts, which Verpact dates to 12 Aug 2027 at the earliest — after that, registration applies regardless of volume.
Does it matter whether my packaging is recyclable?
Yes, for the amount of the Verpact authority fee on plastic packaging: via "Tariefdifferentiatie Plastic", Verpact grants discounts of up to €0.60/kg on the base plastic rate if the packaging is demonstrably well recyclable (KIDV Recycle Check), contains post-consumer recyclate (PCR), is built as a mono-material, and meets certain colour requirements. There is no comparable discount system for other materials (paper, glass, metal, wood). In our cost calculator you can enter the applicable criteria to get a realistic estimate — the final classification takes place as part of registration.
What happens if my actual volume deviates from the Opgaaf estimate?
The Opgaaf at the start of the year is based on a forecast. If the volume actually placed on the market deviates from it, this is corrected at the Aangifte by 1 April of the following year and the fee is charged or refunded accordingly. A realistic estimate at the Opgaaf stage helps avoid surprises at final settlement — we review your volume planning individually.
Are there exceptions for small businesses (SMEs)?
Partly yes, but narrower than often presented: a company is exempt from the reuse targets applying from 2030 if in that calendar year it meets BOTH conditions — micro-enterprise under EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC and no more than 1,000 kg of packaging placed on the market in the Member State concerned. This exemption follows directly from the Regulation and does not have to be granted by any Member State (PPWR Art. 29(13)). Not to be confused with Art. 29(14): there, Member States may additionally exempt economic operators for five years, but only under their own conditions — for instance where the Member State exceeds its recycling targets by five percentage points. The registration duty at Verpact itself depends on the three Verpact criteria (volume over 50,000 kg, SUP or deposit packaging) independently of that — not on company size.
Do I need to additionally label my single-use plastic products?
Yes, independent of the Verpact reporting duty: for certain single-use plastic products — beverage cups, wet wipes, tobacco products with filters and certain hygiene items — Art. 7 of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (2019/904) in conjunction with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2151 requires a uniform labelling pictogram on the packaging indicating correct disposal. This physical labelling duty is separate from the Verpact reporting duty and is a product-related requirement resting with the company as the producer.
Is there a limit on the number of products/SKUs?
No hard limit, but tiered plans: Starter covers up to 1,000 products/SKUs (€29/month), Pro Automation up to 5,000 (€69/month), Growth up to 20,000 (€149/month), and Scale unlimited products/SKUs (€299/month). This keeps us significantly cheaper than SKU-based compliance tools even for larger catalogues, which tier their prices starting from as few as 30–500 products.
Sanctions & risks of non-compliance
Compliance with Verpact obligations is monitored in the Netherlands by the ILT (Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport). Anyone acting as a producer without valid registration takes on both a legal and an operational risk.
In the absence of registration, the ILT can issue orders and demand a retroactive declaration including fees for past periods.
Marketplaces such as Amazon increasingly check EPR proof for the Netherlands and can restrict or deactivate listings without valid registration.
Late registration does not exempt you from the fee obligation for the past — missed periods are billed retroactively.
Exact fine ranges are governed by general Dutch environmental administrative law and are set by the ILT case by case — we therefore generally recommend early rather than retroactive registration.
Who needs authorised representation?
Any German company without its own branch in the Netherlands that places packaged goods on the Dutch market is affected — regardless of sales channel.
Direct shipping from Germany to Dutch end customers via your own web shop.
Sales via Amazon.nl, bol.com or comparable platforms with delivery to the Netherlands.
Storage and shipping via a Dutch fulfilment centre, e.g. Amazon FBA NL.
Since the exact classification depends on the individual case, we review your sales situation individually as part of registration.
Classify plastics correctly — and actually use the discount tiers.
Both require solid data. We support you as your authorised BRP representative with registration, estimation and compliant declaration in the Verpact portal.