With a view to upcoming legislation (PPWR, CSRD, etc.), it is becoming increasingly important to collect packaging data in a timely manner and to manage it properly.
Today, you are only required to complete packaging information in My Product Manager when a retailer explicitly requests it, for example for reporting or declaration purposes.
However, by starting now, you will be better prepared for future legislation.
Packaging elements are the different parts of a product’s packaging that can be separated from each other, either by the consumer (during use or when disposing of it) or later during processing such as recycling.
The main packaging element is that part of the products packaging that:
- Gives the product its shape;
- Is the largest packaging component surrounding the product;
- Contains the majority of the product information and graphics;
Is essential for keeping the contents of the packaging intact.
In short:
🟢 Yes → Primary packaging element→ Use the specific packaging type code (BX, BO, TU, ...)
🔴 No → Secondary packaging element → Always use code PUG
A composite packaging material is packaging made from two or more different materials that cannot be mechanically separated from one another.
| Example | Composition | Why is it composite? |
| Soft drink can | aluminium + polymer coating | coating is permanently attached to the metal |
| Beverage carton | paper + PE + aluminium | laminated layers |
| Crisp packet (standard) | plastic + aluminium layer | layers can not be separated |
| Coffee capsule (most types) | aluminium + plastic | materials are fused togheter |
| Sachets (herbs, sauces) | plastic + metallisation | multiple bonded layers |
| Vacuum-packed meat packaging | multi-layered plastic film | functional layers bonded togheter |
Identify the packaging elements
- What are the packaging elements?
- What is the main packaging element?
Enter the packaging information in My Product Manager → Packaging tab
First, enter the basic information for each packaging element, starting with the main packaging element.
General packaging information
- Packaging type
→ main packaging element: use the appropriate code from the ‘packaging type code list’
→ secondary packaging elements: always use PUG
- Describe the packaging element
→ main packaging element: describe the complete packaging, including any secondary packaging elements
→ secondary packaging element: name the individual element
Packaging material
- Indicate the material from which the packaging element is made.
Is it a composite material? Select ‘COMPOSITE’ or, for beverage cartons, ‘LAMINATED_CARTON’.
- Enter the weight of the packaging material.
Validate and complete additional information
Validate your product sheet. The validation rules will indicate which additional information must be provided for specific packaging materials.
Also consult the information icons 
in My Product Manager or refer to our detailed examples (FMCG – DIY) for guidance on how to complete each field.
Material classification: Rigid (RIGID) / Flexible (FLEXIBLE)
- All single (mono) polymer (POLYMER_xxx) materials and all composite packaging materials that contain a polymer (POLYMER_xxx) material component.
- All polymer material components of a composite packaging material
% Recycled raw materials or bio-based plastic raw materials: (RECYCLED) Recycled / BIOLOGICAL_PLASTIC (Bio-based polymer)
- All single (mono) packaging materials that contain ‘recycled’ or ‘biobased plastic’ raw materials.
- All material components of a composite packaging material, than contain ‘recycled’ or ‘biobased plastic’ raw materials.
Material colour
- All single (mono) polymer (POLYMER_xxx) materials
Material thickness
- All single (mono) aluminium (METAL_ALUMINUM) materials and all composite packaging materials containing 50% or more aluminium (METAL_ALUMINUM)