Current situation, at the beginning
We are receiving an increasing number of inquiries from companies looking to enter the European market regarding European regulations and recycling marks.
At the same time, there are many companies that have already started selling their products in Europe, but have run into trouble because they were unaware of the regulations or were late in responding to them, and are seeking relief.
This article will provide an overview of European packaging regulations, focusing on the "Recycle Mark," as well as the fatal risks and examples of what can happen if the regulations are not followed.
Understanding the European Recycle Mark and European regulations
First of all, as a basic premise, European regulations are divided into two major categories: "regulations concerning the product itself" and "regulations concerning the packaging.
Examples of regulations on the product itself
CE MARK: SELF-CONFORMITY DECLARATION ON "SAFETY, PERFORMANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT" REQUIRED FOR MANY PRODUCTS SOLD IN EU MEMBER COUNTRIES.
CPNP (COSMETIC PRODUCT NOTIFICATION PORTAL): A REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR PLACING COSMETIC PRODUCTS ON THE EU MARKET.
RoHS: Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
REACH REGULATION: CHEMICAL HAZARDS AND RISK MANAGEMENT.
WEEE DIRECTIVE: OBLIGATION TO COLLECT AND RECYCLE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
Battery Directive: Regulations governing the handling of batteries.
Eco-design Directive: A directive that requires energy-saving and environmentally friendly design.
Energy labeling rules: obligation to label energy efficiency of products.
Toy Safety Directive: Standard for toy safety.
MEDICAL DEVICE REGULATIONS (MDR): REGULATIONS COVERING THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE OF A MEDICAL DEVICE.
CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT RULES (CPR): PERFORMANCE LABELING RULES FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
Radio Equipment Directive (RED): Applies to wireless communication devices (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.).
FOOD CONTACT MATERIAL REGULATION (FCM): SAFETY MANAGEMENT OF FOOD CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING MATERIALS.
Examples of Packaging Regulations
RECYCLE MARK: IDENTIFICATION MARK FOR RECYCLING OF PACKAGING MATERIALS (E.G., PAP MARK).
Triman mark (France): a unified mark indicating recycling obligations.
Green Dot (Germany): Certification mark for having paid for packaging recycling.
EU PACKAGING AND PACKAGING WASTE DIRECTIVE: MANDATES THE REUSE AND RECYCLING OF PACKAGING MATERIALS.
PAP MARK: RECYCLED LABELING THAT IDENTIFIES PAPER MATERIALS.
ALU MARK: IDENTIFICATION OF ALUMINUM MATERIAL.
PET MARK: IDENTIFICATION MARK FOR PLASTIC BOTTLES.
GL MARK: IDENTIFICATION MARK INDICATING GLASS MATERIAL.
Compostable logo: Mark indicating that the material is biodegradable (compliant with European standard EN13432).
Mobius Loop: An international generic mark indicating that the material is recyclable.
German VerpackG Law: National law on registration and recycling obligations for packaging materials.
Italian environmental labeling mandate: package material identification labeling to be mandatory from 2022.
Understand the European Recycling Mark, European regulatory applications, registration, certification, etc.
A COMMON MISCONCEPTION IS THAT IN SOME CASES, "CE MARK = SOMETHING TO BE CERTIFIED".
HOWEVER, THE ESSENCE OF THE CE MARK IS A "DECLARATION OF SELF-CONFORMITY.
In other words, the business itself certifies that the product is safe and assumes responsibility for its safety.
AS AN EXCEPTION, CERTAIN CATEGORIES SUCH AS LED PRODUCTS AND LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE TESTED AND VERIFIED BY A THIRD-PARTY ORGANIZATION. NEVERTHELESS, IN MANY CASES, WE HAVE PAID MILLIONS OF YEN TO CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATIONS IN JAPAN, WHEREAS THE SPECIALIZED GERMAN ORGANIZATIONS WE WORK WITH CAN DO SO FOR LESS THAN HALF THAT AMOUNT.
Furthermore, with regard to the recycle mark, the correct material labeling and registration number are required, and the information specified by each country must be correctly indicated.
European Recycle Mark, if you expand into Europe without complying with European regulations.
In developing sales channels in the European market, the risks are limited in the initial stages of dealing with antenna stores and small retailers.
However, the story changes dramatically if you are looking to expand your business in earnest and seek to contract with a multi-store retailer or local distributor.
This is because European distributors (especially sales-type distributors) will not handle any unregulated products to avoid their own legal risk.
Distributors have hundreds or thousands of retail customers, and any claims, lawsuits, or visits by authorities due to regulatory violations are "their responsibility.
Thus, there is always a risk of losing trust in the company in an instant by dealing with an unsupported product.
Failure to comply with the European Recycle Mark and European regulations will always get you on your feet.
The most serious impact of non-compliance with regulations is "losing footing in the growth phase.
When a product begins to become a hit, it often receives anonymous reports from competitors and unannounced inspections by regulatory authorities.
A suspension of sales or a claim for damages at this stage can, in the worst case, shake the very foundations of a business.
Customs detentions are also frequent.
If a shipment is temporarily held up due to suspected regulatory violations, additional documentary correspondence in the local language is required, and delays of one week or more are not uncommon. During this period, warehousing and customs-related costs are incurred daily, and there are even cases where clients refuse to receive the goods.
Furthermore, as commercial transactions deteriorate, there are instances in which companies are required to renegotiate unfavorably on the grounds of non-compliance with regulations, using their advantageous contractual position as a shield.
summary
The minimum requirement for success in the European market is to "play by the rules.
Compliance with European regulations, including the Recycle Mark, is essential for securing consumer confidence, stable business with distributors, and long-term brand maintenance.
Through collaboration with local experts, we provide comprehensive support for the latest regulatory compliance, documentation, and distribution strategies.
Preparation from "now" is the key to successful expansion in Europe.