The German Packaging Act (VerpackG) is a law designed to reduce packaging waste in Germany. From 12 August 2026, VerpackG works alongside the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the new German Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG), which changes who needs to register and how. It applies to all businesses and online sellers who ship packaged goods to customers in Germany.
Do I need to register with LUCID myself?
Yes. As of 12 August 2026, registering with Germany's Central Packaging Register (LUCID) is a personal obligation each business must complete under its own name. This applies even if Printful fulfills all of your orders to Germany. You can no longer use Printful's LUCID ID in place of your own registration.
This is a change from previous guidance: until 11 August 2026, merchants who used Printful exclusively for German fulfillment could submit Printful's LUCID ID instead of registering separately, but unfortunately, updated German regulations no longer provide this option.
You have until September 12, 2026 to do so if you haven’t registered before under the old regulation, or in case you had registered, you will have until November 12, 2026 to update your LUCID registration.
Do I need to do anything else after registering with LUCID?
While registering with LUCID notifies German authorities that you are putting packaging on the market, it doesn't actually get anything recycled. For that, you need to pay a company to physically collect and recycle an amount of packaging waste equivalent to what you're putting into circulation.
In Germany, this collection/recycling work is done by a handful of licensed private companies called "Dual Systems" (the name comes from this being a second, privately-run collection system that runs alongside the normal public household trash collection). Der Grüne Punkt is the best-known one, but there are several others (Interseroh, Landbell, etc.). Choose one from the list here and sign a contract with them.
The chosen Dual System Provider will then request that you report on how much packaging you’ve put on the German market and what it's made of (cardboard, plastic, etc.). The Dual System Provider will then invoice a fee based on the reported quantities.
If your business isn't established in the EU, you also must appoint an authorised representative in Germany. More information on the Authorised Representative requirement in Germany can be found here.
What Printful still covers
Printful remains registered in the LUCID system for the packaging materials we use in fulfillment, and we continue to cover the system-participation costs for that packaging. What's changed is that this no longer satisfies your registration obligation as producer — LUCID registration itself has to be completed by you, under your own business name.
Printful is also working on offering support with the reporting obligations that arise with LUCID registrations. More information on this will be shared as soon as possible.
Required steps
- Register with the LUCID under your own business name.
- Enter into a system-participation agreement with a Dual System provider, e.g. Der Grüne Punkt, to manage recycling compliance. German Dual System Providers can be found here.
- Report your packaging volumes when required.
For more information, please refer to the German packaging authority Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR) explanations on PPWR here and registration in LUCID here.
Submitting your LUCID number to marketplaces
Marketplaces require sellers shipping to Germany to submit a valid LUCID ID under their own business name. Once you've registered, submit your own LUCID ID directly through your marketplace account. We've prepared instructions for:
For help submitting on other platforms, contact that marketplace's support team.
If you use other fulfillment providers in addition to Printful
Your own LUCID registration and reporting cover your packaging regardless of which fulfillment provider(s) you use. If you work with more than one, make sure your reporting reflects packaging from all of them, not just Printful.
If your marketplace flags your submission
If a marketplace does flag your submission, check that your business name and VAT details match exactly what you entered in LUCID.
Still need help? Our Support Team is here for you—reach out anytime through our contact form or start a chat with us.