Support and information

Extended producer responsibility for packaging

Hopvikta pappkartonger
Last reviewed: ‎05‎ ‎December‎ ‎2023

Information for those who are a producer of packaging and thus have extended producer responsibility for packaging.

On this page you can find information about who is defined as a producer, which types of packaging that are covered by extended producer responsibility and other relevant information you primarily need to know in order to fulfil your extended producer responsibility according to the regulation.

Target group

This page turns to you as a packaging producer and for you that are a producer representative for a packaging producer. Definition of these can be found below.

Good to know

The Swedish government has decided on ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging. The ordinance entered into force 1 January 2023. Some provisions enter into force later. 

The information for producers of packaging is divided into fundamental and in-depth support. This page contains what you primarily need to know. In-depth support for you as a packaging producer and you as a producer representative can be found here:

In-depth support and information for producers of packaging

Swedish Ordinances (in Swedish only)

EU directives 

News

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has made a decision to approve the following organisations as producer responsibility organisations for packaging in accordance with 5 chap. 20 § Ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging:

  • Näringslivets Producentansvar i Sverige AB with organisation number 559420-2391
  • TMResponsibility AB with organisation number 556685-2439

The Swedish government has decided on a regulation (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging. The regulation entered into force 1 January 2023. Some provisions will enter into force later. Here you will find a summary of the new regulation and information on the distribution of roles and responsibilities between stakeholders.

Roles and responsibilities between stakeholders

The new rules aim to make it easier for households and businesses to sort and return their packaging waste for recycling. Sorting at source should contribute to recycling more waste, that the handling of waste becomes more resource efficient and that the need for new raw materials decreases, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions. The regulation means that municipalities, producers, producer responsibility organizations (PROs) and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency get new roles and tasks.

New role for municipalities

  • From 1 January 2024, the municipalities have the operational responsibility for collecting packaging waste from households and certain businesses, as well as informing households about preventive measures and sorting packaging waste.
  • By 1 January 2027 at the latest, all municipalities must have introduced door-to-door collection of packaging waste from households. Packaging waste must be collected according to the following materials: paper, plastic, metal and glass (colored and uncolored glass).
  • Bulky packaging waste made of paper and plastic must be collected at easily accessible public collection points.
  • All packaging material including packaging material made of wood, ceramics, textiles and the like must be collected at the municipality's recycling centre.
  • From 1 January 2026 the municipalities must collect packaging waste in squares, in parks and in other popular places outdoors.
  • The producers, through their affiliated PROs, must reimburse the municipalities for the costs of the collection. The compensation is determined in regulations issued by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Packaging waste from businesses

From 1 January 2024 the producer responsibility organization with the largest market share is obliged to set up collection points for packaging waste from businesses.

The collected waste from the collection points will be distributed to producer responsibility organizations based on their respective market share. Other producer responsibility organizations, i.e. those that are not the largest, shall compensate the largest producer responsibility organization for reasonable costs associated with the operation of the collection points.

Some businesses whose waste management is co-located with households may require the municipality to pick up their packaging waste. This applies to businesses that use the same container and space together with households for handling waste on a property. That choice is made through a notification to the municipality.

Businesses can also hand over their packaging or their packaging waste to so-called market-driven systems for reuse or material recycling.

Producers and PROs

All manufacturers of packaging must be affiliated to an approved producer responsibility organization or provide a producer responsibility organization. The activities of producer responsibility organizations must be approved by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The application for approval must be received no later than 31 March of the year before the operation begins.

New provisions on return deposit system 

The new regulation also contains rules on return deposit systems (i.e. bottles and cans). Enforcement responsibility for the return system transferred from 1 January 2023 from the Swedish Agency for Agriculture to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency through an amendment to the regulation on environmental enforcement. Return systems that have an existing approval can continue to operate with this approval until 1 January 2027. After that, they can be re-examined according to the new regulation.

Please note that from 2023 the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency have new IBAN and bankgiro numbers on notices relating to producer responsibility.

  • 5981-6918 (IBAN SE64 1200 0000 0128 1010 1566)
    Notices regarding regulatory fees for electrical equipment, batteries, packaging, wet wipes, fishing gear, balloons, tobacco filters, PRO and the product fee for littering.
  • 5981-6843 (IBAN SE86 1200 0000 0128 1010 1558)
    Notices regarding cadmium charges, return system and the annual fee for littering.

Notices will be sent in the autumn.

Packaging covered

Extended producer responsibility covers several types of packaging, and some are not spontaneously associated with the word "packaging". The packaging that are covered have been produced to:

  1. Contain or present a product
  2. Protect a product
  3. Deliver, transport or handle a product

All materials are covered

The responsibility applies regardless of the material from which the packaging is made and it applies from raw material to final product and from producer to user.

The responsibility covers four types of packaging

There are four types of packaging covered by extended producer responsibility:

  • Consumer packaging

For example, the wrapper of a pack of chewing gum.

  • Group packaging

For example, the box in which 20 packets of chewing gum are packed.

  • Transport packaging

For example, the corrugated cardboard box containing 40 group packaging of chewing gum packages. More common examples: wooden pallets, plastic boxes and roll container trolley in metal.

  • Service packaging, which is filled at the time of sale

For example: The bag that the customer uses for small sweets in the store. Other common examples: carrier bags, pizza and egg cartons and bags for potatoes, onions and fruits.

Packaging used for unprocessed products for agriculture or horticulture are also defined as service packaging.

Products designed for and intended to be filled at the point of sale and having a packaging function shall also be considered packaging. Single-use products already filled at the point of sale are also considered packaging. However, single-use cups shall be considered packaging even if they are not intended to be filled at a point of sale.

Packaging components and ancillary elements integrated into packaging shall be counted as part of the packaging in which they are incorporated. Examples are measuring devices or mascara brushes that form part of the packaging closure.

Ancillary elements hung on or attached to a product and fulfilling a packaging function shall be considered packaging if they are not an integral part of the product and are intended to be collected together with the product. Examples are caps or labels that are hung directly on or attached to a product.

Examples of packaging

Examples of packaging if it is filled or used for the purpose of protecting, presenting or facilitating the handling of a product:

Common packaging is, for example, plastic bottles and metal cans, plastic trays, tin cans, plastic and metal tubes, wooden pallets, plastic tapes, glass bottles and jars, cardboard and corrugated cardboard boxes and so on. The most common packaging is made of plastic, paper, cardboard, glass and metal, but extended producer responsibility also applies to packaging made of wood, fabric, ceramics, porcelain and more.

A product is not considered packaging if it meets all three criteria:

  1. the product is an integral part of the product which the product encloses, protects or presents,
  2. the product is necessary to cover, support or preserve the product throughout its lifetime, and
  3. all parts are intended to be used, consumed or disposed of together.

Who has extended producer responsibility?

  1.  The one who uses packaging

    Companies have extended producer responsibility if they professionally fill or otherwise use packaging to protect, present or facilitate the handling of a product.

    See more about who has extended producer responsibility for what is called service packaging.
  2. The one who provides the packaging first in Sweden

    Companies have extended producer responsibility if they professionally:

    - manufactures a packaging in Sweden
    - bring in a packaging to Sweden
    - bring in a packaged product to Sweden
    - from a country other than Sweden sells a packaged product or a packaging to a final user in Sweden

Responsibility for service packaging

Companies that manufacture, import or otherwise bring in service packaging are covered by the extended producer responsibility.

Companies that fill or use service packaging for their products at the point of sale do NOT have extended producer responsibility for the packaging.

Common service packaging is carrier bags, pizza and egg cartons, cardboard cups and bags for various foods. Packaging used for unprocessed products for agriculture or horticulture are also defined as service packaging.

More requirements for single-use plastic packaging

Single-use plastic packaging, such as plastic bottles, cups and food containers, is subject to more requirements and prohibitions. For example, single-use cups and single-use food containers containing expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) are prohibited.

In addition, companies with extended producer responsibility for single-use packaging containing plastic have an extended responsibility to report data to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, often via their producer responsibility organisation.

What producers must do

Companies with extended producer responsibility for packaging must, among other things:

  • Hire an approved producer responsibility organisation (previously called collection system)
  • Make sure that the company's responsibility is registered to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
  • Report data to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (via the producer responsibility organisation)
  • Pay fees to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and/or the producer responsibility organisation

There are more requirements and rules about, for example, design and marking. Read more about them and more about fees and enforcement in an in-depth support.

In-depth support and information for producers of packaging

Companies have responsibility regardless of the amount of packaging that the company provides on the market in Sweden. The company must hire a producer responsibility organisation and ensure that the company has registered its extended producer responsibility to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

However, the company often pays different fees depending on the amount of packaging.

Learn more about different fees

A digital marketplace is run by an intermediary that collects offers from sellers on its website. The actor who runs the marketplace is, in the legal sense, only an intermediary, and a consumer who purchases via the marketplace enters into an agreement with the individual seller. The one who mediates a product is not considered a producer, but the seller is responsible. 

Hire a producer responsibility organisation

Companies with producer responsibility must hire an approved producer responsibility organisation.

Producer responsibility organisations exist to make it easier for companies to take their producer responsibility. The organisations take an operational or financial responsibility for collecting and treating packaging waste. They also report data on the collection and treatment of packaging waste to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Approved producer responsibility organisations

There are two approved producer responsibility organisations:

In individual cases, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency may grant an exemption from the requirement to hire or provide a producer responsibility organisation. Before a decision is announced, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency must give the producer responsibility organisations an opportunity to comment. Exemption can be granted for a certain period in the following cases:

  1. If all packaging provided by the producer is to be sorted as hazardous waste when it becomes waste.
  2. If the producer can ensure that at least 90 % of the packaging that the producer provides on the market rotates in a market-driven system for re-use and is taken care of by the system when it becomes waste. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's interpretation is that the possibility of exemption from the requirement applies if the producer only provides reusable packaging.

If the producer provides packaging that is not reusable, the producer cannot be exempted from the requirement. A producer who provides both reusable packaging and disposable packaging must therefore hire or provide a producer responsibility organisation.

An application for exemption is made by sending an e-mail to  registrator@naturvardsverket.se with the following information:

  • Information that it is an application for exemption according to Chapter 4. Section 2 Ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging
  • Company name and organisation number
  • Reasons why you believe that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency should grant your application for exemption.

Register your responsibility

Companies that have producer responsibility for packaging must report their responsibility to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The producer responsibility organisations often do this for the companies as a service. Check with your producer responsibility organisation if it is included in your agreement. 

It is also possible to register on your own in the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s e-service. You can also obtain proof that the company has registered as a producer with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's register for producer responsibility. It is important because it is the company's responsibility to ensure that it is registered with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

If a company with producer responsibility, i.e. a  packaging producer, does not register, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency candecide on an injunction directed against the producer. An injunction can be combined with a fine.

From 1 January 2024, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency can also decide on an environmental sanction fee for late registration.

Read more about sanctions 

When registering, you must provide the following information to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency:

  • Name of producer
  • Contact details
  • Personal or corporate identification number (if not available – tax identification number). If you are a producer and are not established in Sweden but sell directly to final users in Sweden, enter your VAT number instead. 
  • Which producer responsibility organisation you have hired. If the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has decided on an exemption according to Chapter 4. Section 2, you will provide that information instead. 
  • On what basis you are a producer as defined in Chapter 1. Section 6 of the Ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging. That is, if you by profession:

  • - fill or otherwise use a package (which is not a service package) for the purpose of protecting, presenting or facilitating the handling of a product

    - bring a packaged product into Sweden

    - manufacture a packaging in Sweden

    - bring a package into Sweden

    - from a country other than Sweden sell a packaged product or packaging to a final user in Sweden 

It is the producer's responsibility that the submitted information is up to date and you are obliged to notify the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as soon as possible of any changes in the information provided. The easiest way to do this is via your producer responsibility organisation, which can be helpful in passing on the changes to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. You can also make changes yourself in the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's e-service, but it is important that both the producer responsibility organisation and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency have the same information.

If, however, you consider that you are no longer a producer, you send an e-mail to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,  kundtjanst@naturvardsverket.se, with the following information:

  • Company name and organization number
  • • The reason why you no longer consider yourself a producer and the date from which you consider your producer responsibility to end or have ended. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will assess whether, and if so when, your producer responsibility should be considered to cease or have ceased. 

Please note that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's producer register is not linked to, for example, the Swedish Companies Registration Office. Any changes must therefore always be notified directly to your producer responsibility organisation and/or the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

If you as a producer of packaging are established in Sweden and sell packaging to another country in the European Economic Area (EEA) where your company is not established, you must appoint a producer representative in that country. The representative shall be responsible for your obligations in that country.

If you are a producer and not established in Sweden, you may appoint a producer representative. The producer representative must be established in Sweden. If a representative is not appointed, you are responsible for your obligations in Sweden. If you choose to appoint a producer representative, this must be done through a written power of attorney. The representative will then be responsible for your obligations according to the Ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging and the Ordinance (2021:1002) on littering fees. 

The producer representative in Sweden must register with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. You who intend to register as a producer representative must then send an e-mail to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,  kundtjanst@naturvardsverket.se, with the following information:

  • Name of producer representative, contact details and personal or corporate identification number (if not available – tax identification number)
  • A copy of the power of attorney
  • Name of producer, contact details and tax identification number
  • Information on which product you as a producer representative will be responsible for

Then you need to log in as a producer representative in the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's e-service and add yourself as a contact person for the producer you are a representative for.  

Report

Each year, companies with producer responsibility must ensure that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency receives a report with information. Many do it via their producer responsibility organisation. 

Companies with reporting requirements to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

The following must report to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency:

  • Companies that manufacture or import/bring service packaging into Sweden 
  • Companies that fill or use all other types of packaging for their business 
  • Companies that import/bring packaged goods into Sweden 
  • Companies that manufacture or import/bring single-use cups that are not intended to be filled at the point of sale, such as cups for consumers or offices. 

Companies with producer responsibility must hire a producer responsibility organisation. You can ask them about the possibility to report via the producer responsibility organisation. Then ensure that the producer responsibility organisation can hand over correct data in time to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency also has an e-service for self-reporting. 

Information to be reported

Companies must report the amount of packaging that the company (producer) has provided (imported, manufactured, used) on the market in Sweden during the previous calendar year.

The quantity must be reported in weight per packaging material, such as plastic, wood and aluminium.

The reported data must also show the amount of:

  • consumer packaging
  • reusable packaging
  • reusable consumer packaging
  • beverage bottles that are single-use plastic products
  • plastic bottles and metal cans that are part of a return system. These must also be reported in numbers.

The report must contain information on

1. the number of packaging that a producer has provided on the Swedish market during the preceding calendar year which is:

a) food containers which are single-use plastic products,

b) cups that are single-use plastic products,

c) single-use plastic lids for cups,

d) flexible wrappers,

e) plastic bottles for drinks that hold less than 0.6 liters,

f) beverage containers other than plastic bottles that hold less than 0.6 liters,

g) thin plastic carrier bags, and

h) thick plastic carrier bags, and

2. the amount of plastic used in food containers and mugs which are single-use plastic products.

The number of food containers, cups and lids that are single-use plastic products must be divided into 

  1. packaging consisting solely of plastic, and 
  2. packaging that partly consists of plastic. 

The information must show how many of the thin plastic carrier bags that have walls thinner than 15 micrometres and are needed for hygiene reasons or provided as primary packaging for foods sold in bulk.

The data must be specified in each product category. Read more under "Reporting of composite packaging and other packaging consisting of more than one material" further down. 

A producer must provide information to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency about the packaging that the producer provided or released on the Swedish market for which information about the content of certain harmful substances has been submitted to the European Chemicals Agency's SCIP database. You can read more about the SCIP database here:

SCIP - ECHA (europa.eu)

This reporting will be applied for the first time to single-use beverage bottles made available on the Swedish market after the end of 2023. 

A producer who provides a single-use bottle for beverages made from PET as the main component on the Swedish market, must submit information to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency on how much recycled plastic has been used in the bottles during the preceding calendar year. 

The EU Commission Implementing Decision (2019/665) amending Decision 2005/270/EC establishing the formats relating to the database system pursuant to Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste states that: 

Composite packaging and other packaging consisting of more than one material is calculated and reported per material included in the packaging. Member States may deviate from this requirement where a given material constitutes an insignificant part of the packing unit and in no case more than 5 % of the total mass of the packaging. 

Possible handling of insignificant proportions (5% criterion) 

In cases where a composite packaging contains a material that makes up less than 5 % of the total mass of the packaging, this can be handled in two ways. 

1) Reporting the insignificant part to current material 
Preferably, the weight of the packaging is reported per material included in the packaging, even for those materials that make up less than 5 % of the total mass of the packaging. 

2) Allocate the insignificant part to the dominant material
It is also possible to allocate the insignificant part to the dominant material in the packaging. The example below is taken from the EU Commission's guidance: If a composite packaging consists of:

  • 75 % paper,
  • 21 % plastic and
  • 4 % metal 

it is allowed to allocate the amount of metal to the dominant material paper. Thus, it is allowed to report 79 % paper and 21 % plastic. 

An additional example. If a unit of packaging consists of: 

  • 90 % paper, 
  • 5 % plastic (screw cap), 
  • 3 % plastic laminate and 
  • 2 % metal laminate 

it is allowed to allocate the amount of metal to the dominant material paper. Thus, it is allowed to report 92 % paper and 8 % plastic. Since the plastic laminate and the plastic cap are of the same material (plastic), it cannot be considered that the material plastic is "insignificant", it is therefore not allowed to allocate the plastic laminate to the dominant material. 

Exeption from the 5% criterion

The deviation from reporting per material does not apply to composite packaging and other packaging that must be reported as single-use plastic products: 

a) food containers which are single-use plastic products, 

b) cups that are single-use plastic products, 

c) single-use plastic lids for cups, 

d) flexible wrappers, 

e) plastic bottles for drinks that hold less than 0.6 liters, 

f) beverage containers other than plastic bottles that hold less than 0.6 liters, 

g) thin plastic carrier bags, and 

h) thick plastic carrier bags, and 

These packaging must always be calculated and reported separately, even if a material makes up less than 5 % of the total mass of the packaging. Examples are paper or cardboard-based single-use products that have a plastic lining or a plastic coating. 

Stakeholders covered by producer responsibility for packaging have different forms of reporting requirements. The information to be provided differs depending on the type of stakeholder you are. For example, producers and producer responsibility organisations report different types of information.  

What you and other stakeholders report enables the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to follow up on Sweden's goals for material recycling and how producer responsibility works. The data is also the basis for Sweden's annual statistical reporting to the EU. 

Provisions on what information must be reported by whom is defined in Chapter 11 of the Ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency also specifies what information must be provided in regulations (NFS 2023:13).

Obligation to provide information on request to the Swedish environmental protection agency  

At the request of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the information that the authority needs to report in accordance with the Packaging and packaging waste directive shall be provided by: 

  1. a producer, 
  2. a producer responsibility organisation, and 
  3. the operator of:

    (a) market-driven recycling systems

    (b) market-driven systems for reuse, and

    (c) other systems for the reuse of packaging.  

E-service producer responsibility

Companies and organisations affected by producer responsibility can submit (or update) their information to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency via the e-service for producer responsibility.

Definitions

By profession is not defined in the Swedish Environmental Code or in the producer responsibility regulations and it must therefore be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The assessment takes into account: 

  • The operator is a trader in terms of tax law
  • The business calls itself an entrepreneur
  • The business charges for the product

Non-profit organizations can be considered to be engaged in commercial activities if they provide products in a business context. However, in principle, occasional deliveries by charities or hobby users should not be considered to be made in a business context. Read more in section 2.4 of the Environmental Protection Agency's guide 2004:8 Hazardous waste and The Blue Guide on the implementation of EU product rules 2022.

A composite packaging is a packaging consisting of two or more layers of different materials which cannot be separated by hand and which form an integral unit, consisting of an inner container and an outer shell, which is filled, stored, transported and emptied as such (Packaging Directive, Article 3). 

In some contexts in the packaging industry, the terms "composite" and "laminate" have different meanings. Where composite refers to mechanically mixed materials, while laminate refers to materials of several layers that can be separated. In the packaging reporting, both concepts are included in the definition of composite packaging. 

Examples of composite packaging and other packaging consisting of more than one material 

  • A beverage packaging in cardboard where the inside is laminated with plastic is an example of a composite package. 
  • A glass packaging with a metal screw cap is an example of another packaging that consists of more than one material. 

Being established in Sweden means having a domicile or registered office in Sweden and conducting a professional activity in Sweden.

Any company that package a product is a filler. This means that there can be several fillers for a product if it is repackaged in several stages. Decisive for whether you are considered a producer or not is whether you add a packaging or packaging material to a product, regardless of whether it has already been packaged or not.

If a company hires another company to fill the product, the client is considered a filler in cases where the hired company owns neither the product nor the packaging. In these cases, the hired company only performs a filling service. If the hired company owns the product or packaging, it is considered a filler and is thus covered by the producer definition.

A final user is not covered by the producer definition. A final user of packaging means that a private person or a company for their own fills, manufactures or brings in a packaging or packaged products in/to Sweden. Examples of final users not covered by the producer definition is a company that buys a product, which is packaged, and then uses the product in its own business or a private person who buys a product online, which is packaged, gets it delivered to their home and then uses the product for private use.

Import involves a company or a private person bringing goods to Sweden from a country outside the EU. Brining in means bringing products or packaging to Sweden from another country within the EU.

Packaging covered by extended producer responsibility is defined as a single-use item or other product produced to:

  • Contain a product
  • Protect a product
  • Present a product
  • Used to deliver or otherwise handle a product

This applies from raw material to final product and from producer to user.

The product is covered if it has any of the above functions and is a:

  • Consumer packaging (packaging which, at the point of sale, constitutes a sales unit for the final user or consumer of the product)
  • Group packaging (packaging which, at the point of sale, covers a group of sales units and can be removed without affecting the goods)
  • Transport packaging (packaging that facilitates the handling and transport of a number of sales units or group packaging to prevent damage during handling or transport)
  • Service packaging (packaging filled at the point of sale or used for unprocessed products from agriculture or horticulture)

Plastic carrier bag

The general concept of plastic carrier bags is defined in the Ordinance (2021:996) on single-use products as a plastic bag provided to enable consumers to pack and carry goods from the place where the goods are provided. Thin plastic carrier bags are defined as a plastic carrier bag thinner than 50 micrometres. Very thin plastic carrier bags are bags that are thinner than 15 micrometres and are needed for hygiene reasons or are provided for food sold in bulk. Plastic carrier bags that have been designed for long-term use are exempt by the rules.

Beverage container

Examples of beverage containers are plastic beverage bottles, including corks and lids, and beverage containers in composite materials, including corks and lids. 

The following four criteria can be used to determine whether a beverage container or beverage bottle is covered by the Regulation: 

  • is made entirely or partly of plastic, 
  • is not a mug, 
  • has a capacity not exceeding three litres, and 
  • is a container intended for liquid. 

A beverage container may be composed of more than one material, one of which may be plastic. In cases where one of the materials is plastic, the end product is considered to be partly made of plastic and is covered by the Directive on Single-use Plastics. When, for example, paper or cardboard-based beverage containers have a plastic lining or a plastic coating on the surface, they are partly made of plastic and are thus covered by the directive. 

Beverage containers in glass or metal with corks and lids made of plastic are not covered. 

Beverage containers and beverage bottles used for food for special medical purposes as defined in Article 2.2 g of Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (21) and in liquid form shall be exempted from Article 6 in accordance with point b of Part C and point b of Part F of the Annex.

Cup

Cups are defined in the Ordinance on single-use products as glasses, cups or mugs intended for beverages (cold or hot) which are usually drunk directly from the container. A cup can be with or without a lid. 

Cups used for liquid, which meet the requirements set out above and are sold empty, are also covered. 

A cup can be made entirely of plastic or composed of more than one material, one of which can be plastic. In cases where one of the materials is plastic, the end product is considered to be partly made of plastic and is covered by the Directive on Single-use Plastics. When, for example, paper or cardboard-based cups have a plastic lining or a plastic coating on the surface, they are partly made of plastic and are thus covered by the directive.

Food container

According to the Ordinance on single-use products, food containers are packaging, with or without lids, that are molded or mostly unchanged in shape after the contents are added or removed. The food container can, for example, be used for fast food such as meals with cold or hot food, sandwiches, wraps and salads. Containers for foods containing fresh or processed foods that do not require any further preparation, such as fruits, vegetables and desserts, are also included.

A food container can be made entirely of plastic or composed of more than one material, one of which can be plastic. In cases where one of the materials is plastic, the end product is considered to be partly made of plastic and is covered by the Directive on Singe-use Plastics. When, for example, paper or cardboard-based food containers have a plastic lining or a plastic coating on the surface, they are partly made of plastic and are thus covered by the directive.

In order for a food container to be covered, it must be used for fast food. A food container, with or without a lid, is therefore covered by the regulation if it is used for food that: 

  • are intended to be consumed directly (at the point of sale or elsewhere), 
  • is usually consumed directly from the packaging, 
  • and is ready to be consumed without any further preparation (for example, cooking or heating).

In addition to the above criteria, the probability that a food container will become debris due to its volume or size must be included in the assessment to determine whether it is a disposable plastic product covered by the Directive.

Food containers used for food that meet the requirements of the Directive but are sold empty and are not intended to be filled at the point of sale are also covered by the Directive.

Flexible wrappers

According to the Directive on Single-use Plastics, packets and wrappers are defined as packaging made of a flexible material. In the ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging, a flexible wrapper is also a flexible single-use plastic product that contains foods that are intended to be consumed directly from the packaging without further preparation.

A flexible wrapper for food can be made entirely of plastic or composed of more than one material, one of which can be plastic. In cases where one of the materials is plastic, the end product is considered to be partly made of plastic and therefore covered. When, for example, paper-based flexible wrappers have a plastic lining or a plastic coating on the surface, they are partly made of plastic and are thus covered by the directive.

According to the Ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging, a producer is defined as someone who professionally:  

  1. fills or otherwise uses packaging (that is not a service packaging) for the purpose of protecting, presenting or facilitating the handling of an item, 
  2. brings a packaged product to Sweden, 
  3. manufactures packaging in Sweden,  
  4. brings packaging to Sweden 
  5. sells a packaged product or packaging to an end user in Sweden from another country.  

Placing a packaging on the Swedish market means providing a packaging on the Swedish market for the first time. Examples of situations when a company releases a packaging into the market is when:

  • A company brings a packaging or a packaged product into Sweden and sells it directly to final users or retailers
  • A company manufactures packaging in Sweden and sells to final users or retailers
  • A company fills a packaging, which is not a service packaging, and sells to final users or retailers

Each individual packaging is only placed on the market once. But there are situations when a product is repackaged in several steps. Regarding these cases, when packaging or packaging material is added, the new, additional packaging is placed on the market by the company that repackaged the goods in the next step.

Providing a packaging or a packaged product on the Swedish market means making a packaging available for distribution, consumption or use on the Swedish market in connection with professional activities. This is regardless of whether the product is paid for or for free.

A reusable packaging is defined as packaging that has been designed, constructed and released on the market to be reused several times during its life cycle. That by being refilled or reused for the same purpose for which it was designed.

About the producer responsibility

The ordinance (2022:1274) on producer responsibility for packaging provides extended producer responsibility for the design of packaging as well as the collection and processing of packaging. The ordinance aims to: 

  • Reduce the amount of packaging and packaging waste by manufacturing packaging in such a way that its volume and weight are limited to the level required to maintain a good level of safety and hygiene 
  • Packaging is only used when necessary 
  • Packaging to a greater extent is reused 
  • Limit the harmfulness to the environment of materials and substances in packaging 
  • Producers must take operational or financial responsibility to collect and process packaging waste 
  • Packaging waste must be handled in a health and environmentally acceptable manner 
  • Achieve the targets on material recycling  
  • Reduce litter 

By taking producer responsibility you are also contributing to a sustainable development and a circular economy. 

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