Packaging
Overview
The Packaging section is where every packaging unit you place on the EU market is registered, classified, and documented. Each item works through six steps, from classification to the Declaration of Conformity, and the list gives you the live compliance picture across all items. This master data is the basis for substance limits, technical documentation, and the Declaration of Conformity (Art. 38/39).
🟢 Why this matters. PPWR conformity is per packaging unit (Art. 3, Annex I). An item that is not classified and documented cannot be shown to conform, and from 12 August 2026 market access is only for conform packaging. The end goal for every item here is a complete evidence chain ending in its Declaration of Conformity. See Regulation (EU) 2025/40.
The packaging list
The list shows every item with search, filters (Level, Packaging type, Status, Verdict), and these columns:
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Item name | The packaging item. |
| Verdict | Packaging or Not packaging, from the classification step. |
| Packaging type and Level | The classification attributes, where set. |
| Single-use | Yes or No, from classification. |
| Substances | Conform or Open, the substance-compliance state under Art. 5. |
| Classified on | The date of classification. |
| Compliance status | The item's overall state, see below. |
Compliance status, explained
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Complete | All required steps are done: the item is classified and its evidence chain is in place. |
| Partial | Some steps or evidence are still missing. |
| Open | The item has barely been started beyond classification. |
| Not relevant for PPWR | The classification verdict was Not packaging, so the item carries no per-unit obligations. |
Bringing every item to Complete or Not relevant for PPWR is setup step 3 on the Legal Background page.
The six steps per item
Each item's detail page carries a stepper with six steps. Each step has its own guide in this section:
- Classification. Is it packaging at all, and what kind (Art. 3, Annex I)?
- Master data & marking. Attributes, sourcing, and the marking on the pack (Art. 5, 15, 22).
- Supplier information. The documents you need from suppliers (Art. 16).
- Substances (Art. 5). Substance compliance, from heavy metals to PFAS.
- Technical documentation. The evidence file per Annex VII.
- Declaration of Conformity. The formal declaration (Art. 38/39), the end goal for every item.
An Audit history per item is marked Coming Soon in the product.
In this section
- Add Packaging Items. Add items one by one or upload a packaging list.
- Classification. The verdict, type, level, single-use, and food-contact attributes.
- Master Data & Marking. Sourcing, marking on pack, and artwork evidence.
- Supplier Information. The five supplier document slots and how uploads work.
- Substances (Art. 5). How substance conformity is evaluated and shown.
- Technical Documentation. How the Annex VII file comes together.
- Declaration of Conformity. Previewing and completing the declaration.
ℹ️ Regulatory context. Classification rests on Article 3 and Annex I, substance limits on Article 5, marking on Articles 15 and 22, supplier obligations on Article 16, technical documentation on Annex VII, and the Declaration of Conformity on Articles 38 and 39 with Annex VIII. See Regulation (EU) 2025/40. kolum provides software and regulatory information, not legal consultancy; for advice on your individual case, consult a qualified lawyer.