16/09/2026
PPWR is currently blocking my small business. 📦🇪🇺
For the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to figure out what the new European packaging rules actually mean for a tiny shop like Re-leaf.
And honestly? It’s a LOT.
Right now, I’ve decided to keep shipping open only to Belgium while I make sure everything is compliant.
Here in Belgium, I’ve contacted EPRiBEL and Fost Plus and I’m currently going through the registration process. I’m also still trying to understand exactly which packaging I’m responsible for and what I need to declare.
But then comes the bigger problem: the rest of Europe.
Because even though PPWR is European legislation, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is still organised country by country.
So if I want to ship a €20 mug to France, Germany, the Netherlands or elsewhere, I first need to understand the rules in that country, whether I need to register, what I need to declare and potentially pay fees there too.
For a tiny independent shop, this quickly becomes a huge administrative burden.
And unfortunately, stopping international shipping has a very real impact on Re-leaf. A big part of my customers are outside Belgium, and since restricting shipping to Belgium… sales have basically stopped. 🫠
I want to do things properly. I just need to understand how.
So this is also a little call for help to other European shops, makers and small businesses:
What is happening in your country? 🇪🇺
Have you registered for EPR?
Are there exemptions or simplified rules for very small businesses?
Are you still shipping to other EU countries?
Have you found reliable information that actually explains what we’re supposed to do?
Please share your experience below, wherever you’re based. It might help me, and hopefully we can help each other navigate this giant European packaging puzzle. 📦
In the meantime, Re-leaf is still open for Belgium 🇧🇪, and every order genuinely helps while I figure out how to reopen shipping to the rest of Europe.
Hopefully soon. 🤞
