Packaging compliance in Sweden: what you need to do
A practical guide for brands and e-commerce sellers who ship packaged products to customers in Sweden
The rules that apply in Sweden
Two sets of rules apply to packaging on the Swedish market:
- Swedish producer responsibility (EPR) - Ordinance SFS 2022:1274 on producer responsibility for packaging. It decides who registers, who joins a producer responsibility organisation (PRO) and who pays the fees. Amendments in SFS 2026:1462 have applied since 12 August 2026.[2]
- The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) - Regulation (EU) 2025/40, which has applied since 12 August 2026. As a regulation, it applies directly in Sweden, without a Swedish law in between. It sets the rules for how packaging is designed, labelled and documented.[3]
Disclaimer: this guide is not legal advice. It's a practical walkthrough to help you understand what's required and get moving. For formal legal interpretation, consult a qualified advisor.
Who is the producer?
If you sell packaged products to customers in Sweden, you're the producer of that packaging, wherever your company is based. That covers both the product packaging (bags, boxes, labels and hangtags) and the shipping packaging (mailers, boxes, tape and void fill).
Since 12 August 2026, the brand owner is responsible, including for private-label products, rather than the company that fills the packaging.[2]
Don't have your own entity in Sweden? You need to appoint an Authorised Representative there (required since August 2026).[3] (Article 45)
1. Register with Naturvårdsverket
Register as a producer with Naturvårdsverket, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. There is no minimum amount or turnover: the threshold is 0 kg, so a single unit placed on the Swedish market means you must register.[1]
Online marketplaces such as Amazon and Zalando must check that every seller has a valid packaging registration before they can list products, so a missing registration can also stop your sales there.[3] (Article 44, DSA Reg. 2022/2065 Article 30)
2. Join a PRO and report
You also need to join a PRO from the first kilo. The Swedish PROs for packaging are NPA and TMR. Drinks packaging in the deposit system is handled by Returpack (Pantamera).[4][5]
You report monthly or quarterly, by the 25th of the month after each period, and an annual report is due by 31 March. The first annual report under the new rules is due on 31 March 2027.
Your reports cover:
- weight per material
- consumer packaging
- reusable packaging
- packaging in the deposit system
- unit counts for single-use plastic items
You pay a fee per kilo to your PRO. Fees are eco-modulated, which means packaging that is harder to recycle costs more.[4]
To report, you need two things for every packaging item: its material breakdown and weight, and the number of units shipped to Sweden. The second usually comes from your warehouse or 3PL.
What happens if you don't comply
- Sanction fees - SEK 10,000 for reporting late and SEK 30,000 for not having joined a PRO.
- Marketplace listings - online marketplaces can stop sellers who don't have a valid registration.[3] (DSA Reg. 2022/2065 Article 30)
3. Check your packaging against the PPWR
The PPWR rules are the same in Sweden as in every other EU country. These are the ones that matter most for e-commerce:
- Recyclability - all packaging is graded A, B or C. From 2030, Grade C (70%) is the minimum. Below that, you can't sell in the EU.[3] (Article 6, Annex II Table 3)
- Recycled content - plastic packaging needs a minimum share of recycled material: 10-35% by 2030, rising to 25-65% by 2040, depending on the type.[3] (Article 7)
- Empty space - grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging must not be more than 50% empty space from 2030.[3] (Article 24)
- Waste reduction - packaging must be the minimum necessary. False bottoms, double walls and decorative bulk are banned from 2030.[3] (Article 10)
- Labelling - harmonised material and sorting labels become mandatory from 12 August 2028 at the earliest, or 24 months after the Commission's implementing acts enter into force, whichever is later.[3] (Article 12)
- Green claims - you can only call packaging "recyclable" or "made from recycled content" if it meets the EU's thresholds for that claim.[3] (Article 14)
Note: several 2030 requirements depend on the EU adopting implementing or delegated acts first. The actual deadline is 2030 or 24 months after those acts enter into force, whichever is later.
What do you need to do now?
- Register with Naturvårdsverket - from the first unit you place on the Swedish market.
- Join a PRO - NPA or TMR, plus Returpack for deposit packaging.
- Appoint an Authorised Representative - if you don't have your own entity in Sweden. (Article 45)
- Collect packaging data from your suppliers - material composition, weights, recycled content and recyclability grades.
- Track the units you ship to Sweden - per packaging item, from your warehouse or 3PL.
- Report on time - monthly or quarterly by the 25th, and the annual report by 31 March.
Does this sound like an admin nightmare?
Don't worry, we've got you.
Circulate collects the packaging data from your suppliers and turns it into ready-to-file reports for Sweden and your other markets. We guide you through the rest, so you can focus on building your business.
References
Last updated: November 2026. This page provides general guidance and should not be considered legal advice.