Lucid Packaging Register: Explained (UK)
If you’re looking to expand your business’s shipping options to Germany, you’ve probably come across the Lucid Packaging Register (LPR). Feeling overwhelmed at the prospect? You’re not alone.
Understanding the LPR can be complicated, but fear not – our guide is here to help you get to grips with the rules and regulations.
What is the Lucid Packaging Register?
In a nutshell, the Lucid Packaging Register enables Germany to recycle any packaging from items your business ships there. It requires you to contribute towards the costs of processing and recycling your postage materials.
The LPR was created by the Central Agency Packaging Register in 2019 to improve Germany’s recycling economy and make packaging more sustainable.
How does this impact UK sellers?
If you’re a UK-based seller delivering to German customers, you must:
Register with the LPR.
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Pay an annual licence fee to a dual system – this money will go towards the costs of recycling your packaging.
Declare your packaging materials and weights each year via the LPR system and to your dual system.
In this guide, we’re concentrating on the LPR registration process. To obtain your dual system license, you’ll need to partner with an approved company such as Reclay, Landbell or Verpackgo.
Failure to register and pay your license fee can result in warning letters and hefty fines (up to €200,000). You may even be banned from selling in Germany altogether, so it’s worth getting it right.
Thankfully, there’s no registration fee for the LPR, so it’s just a matter of setting time aside for the admin. The process is fairly straightforward and you can register following a few simple steps.
What to do
First thing’s first, head over to the LPR’s English site and create an account.
Read carefully through the checklist – it contains all you need to fulfil the registration requirements. You can find the checklist under the “Information and Orientation” tab under “Instructions and Further Information”.
Congratulations – you’re nearly ready to ship to Germany! Just remember to clearly explain return and recycling options via your Ts&Cs and pay for your dual system licence.
Finally, you’ll need to report your packaging volume per year but you should get an email reminder about this once registered. Phew!
What we do
At Zenstores, we simplify the shipping process for your business and help you find the most affordable international shipping options.
Our ecommerce software helps you put all your orders on one dashboard, saving you time and money by connecting your business where it sells. For more advice and support about selling internationally from the UK, get in touch today.
