PPWR consultancy in the Łódź Voivodeship: how can manufacturing, retail and logistics companies prepare for the new requirements?

The Łódź Voivodeship is a region where packaging forms part of the day-to-day operations of many businesses: from manufacturing plants and clothing brands, through to warehousing centres, wholesalers, online shops and B2B distributors. The PPWR may therefore affect not only packaging manufacturers, but also businesses that pack, repack, import, fulfil orders or dispatch products to customers. The PPWR advisory service in the Łódź Voivodeship helps companies to check whether they are aware of the packaging they place on the market, what packaging waste is generated in their processes, and whether their environmental documentation reflects the actual flow of goods.

The PPWR, or Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, is an EU regulation concerning packaging and packaging waste. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 entered into force on 11 February 2025 and, in principle, is to apply from 12 August 2026.

Why is PPWR particularly important for businesses in the Łódź Voivodeship?

The PPWR is not just a matter for the legal department. It is a regulation that may require the organisation of data, procurement, logistics, warehousing, sales, environmental documentation and cooperation with suppliers. In the Łódź Voivodeship, this is particularly significant, as many companies operate under a model in which a product goes through several stages of packaging: upon delivery, during storage, during order fulfilment, at the point of sale and during dispatch.

A company based in Łódź may design a product but outsource its production to a subcontractor. A wholesaler based in Pabianice may import goods in bulk packaging and repackage them for its customers’ needs. A distributor based in Piotrków Trybunalski may serve several sales channels simultaneously. An online shop based in Zgierz may use a variety of carton, envelope, film and filler formats.

In each of these cases, packaging is a form of environmental information, not merely a logistical consideration.

PPWR requires control over the entire packaging cycle

A business owner should know what types of packaging are used within the company, what materials they are made of, who provides data on their weight, and how this information is incorporated into the company’s records and reporting. If a company does not have a packaging inventory, preparations for the PPWR will be based on guesswork.

The packaging chart is a practical list of unit, bulk and transport packaging used in the company’s processes.

Such a map should cover not only the end-product box, but also master cartons, labels, films, dividers, tape, pallets, fillers, bags, component packaging, transport protection and materials used for returns.

The greatest risk: packaging that nobody regards as an obligation

In many companies, some packaging „disappears” between departments. The purchasing department sees the invoices. The warehouse sees the consumption. Production sees the waste. Sales sees the customer’s requirements. Administration prepares reports. The problem arises when nobody sees the bigger picture.

PPWR requires the integration of information scattered across the organisation.

If a company changes its supplier, the type of cardboard, the weight of the film, the dispatch method or the way promotional packs are packaged, the environmental data should also be updated.

Challenges faced by businesses in relation to the PPWR

The PPWR covers packaging and packaging waste on the European Union market. The new approach is designed to promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling, as well as more uniform rules for packaging on the EU market. The European Commission points out that the regulation replaces the existing directive on packaging and packaging waste.

For businesses, this means a shift from a reactive approach to record-keeping to continuous monitoring of packaging processes.

Challenge 1: separating individual, bulk and transport packaging

A company may be able to correctly identify a product’s packaging, but overlook what happens in the warehouse or during transport. Yet transport packaging can be crucial for assessing liability, even if the end customer never sees it.

Example: a manufacturer of technical components dispatches a product in individual packaging, packs several items into a master carton, secures them with dividers, wraps them in film and places them on a pallet. Analysing only the first layer of packaging does not reveal the actual flow of materials.

Challenge 2: data on the composition and weight of packaging

PPWR highlights the importance of data quality. A company should know whether the weights of packaging are derived from supplier documents, actual measurements, product data sheets or estimates that have been in use for years.

The packaging details must be clear.

If no one in the company can identify the source of the data on the weight of the cardboard, the composition of the film or the type of plastic, it is worth treating this as a sign that an audit is needed.

Challenge 3: private label, packaging and product bundles

The Łódź Voivodeship is home to many companies that operate under a trade-and-manufacturing model: they order products, assemble kits, add their own labels, create promotional packaging or sell under their own brand. In this model, responsibilities are not always clear-cut.

A company may not manufacture the goods itself, but it may be responsible for the way they are packaged, labelled, repackaged or placed on the market.

Challenge 4: Returns and repackaging in e-commerce

An online shop should not limit its analysis to parcels sent to customers. Returns also give rise to packaging processes: repackaging, replacing boxes, securing the product, disposing of damaged packaging and the generation of waste.

In e-commerce, packaging varies. Its usage depends on the season, promotions, product dimensions, the number of returns and packaging policy.

Why is it worth commissioning an external specialist to carry out a PPWR analysis?

The PPWR consultancy firm in the Łódź Voivodeship can help business owners identify processes that have become „invisible” internally because they have been operating in the same way for years. An external auditor does not merely assess documents; they should check whether the documents reflect actual practice.

Eko-Pro describes the PPWR audit as a comprehensive assessment of a company’s readiness to meet the requirements of the regulation, including an assessment of packaging in terms of its design, composition, recyclability and compliance with environmental and legal requirements.

An external adviser aligns the regulations with the company’s operations

When it comes to PPWR, it is not enough simply to state what the regulation says. It is necessary to determine what it means for a specific business. The analysis will differ for a textile company, a wholesaler, a technical manufacturing firm and an e-commerce business.

The specialist should check:

• where packaging is used within the company,
• which departments create or modify environmental data,
• Are transport packaging materials included in the analysis,
• Do suppliers provide sufficient data,
• Does BDO’s documentation reflect the actual processes,
• Does the company have a procedure for updating data following a change to the packaging,
• Is responsibility for the PPWR assigned to specific individuals?.

PPWR advice should lead to a decision, not just a general note.

An audit reduces the risk of errors across departments

Environmental errors rarely arise in a single place. Most often, they result from a lack of communication between departments. The procurement department fails to pass on environmental data to the person responsible for environmental compliance. The warehouse changes its packaging methods without updating the documentation. Sales launches a new distribution channel without analysing the packaging. Marketing designs a promotional pack without consulting the person responsible for compliance.

PPWR’s consultancy services help to organise these points of contact.

Outsourcing reduces response times to changes

Businesses in the Łódź Voivodeship that frequently change their product range, work with multiple suppliers or handle mail-order business need ongoing monitoring. A one-off audit may highlight gaps, but ongoing support helps to maintain order following changes.

Eko-Pro states that, as part of its ongoing collaboration, it provides support with day-to-day environmental obligations, including the interpretation of regulations, operational advice, the preparation of documents and representing the company before administrative authorities.

PPWR advisory services in the Łódź Voivodeship and the specific characteristics of local businesses

The Łódź Voivodeship is best described in terms of the flow of goods. The region’s central location means that many companies base their production, warehousing, order fulfilment, distribution or order processing operations here. The PPWR addresses precisely these processes, as this is where decisions on packaging are made and where packaging waste is generated.

There is no need to rely on local statistics to highlight a practical correlation: the more stages there are in a product’s lifecycle, the more points at which environmental obligations may arise.

Łódź: manufacturing, own-brand products and online retail

Companies based in Łódź often combine sales, product design, collaboration with subcontractors, warehousing and dispatch. In such a model, it is particularly important to establish who makes decisions regarding packaging and who has access to data on its composition and weight.

The term ‘environmental audit in Łódź’ should not refer solely to a document review. In the context of the PPWR, it should cover the actual life cycle of packaging: from the purchase of materials, through packaging, to dispatch and waste.

Piotrków Trybunalski, Stryków and the surrounding area: logistics and distribution

Distribution and warehousing companies must pay particular attention to bulk and transport packaging. It is precisely this packaging that is often regarded as a technical aspect of dispatch rather than an area of environmental responsibility.

In distribution centres, it is not only the products that matter, but also repackaging, order picking, labelling, transport protection and returns.

Pabianice, Zgierz, Kutno, Radomsko, Sieradz and Skierniewice: different models, a shared data problem

A manufacturing company may have issues with production waste and raw material packaging. A wholesaler — with master cartons and plastic film. E-commerce businesses may face issues with fluctuating consumption of shipping packaging. B2B distributors may have to deal with multiple suppliers and various packaging formats.

In every case, PPWR consultancy in the Łódź Voivodeship should begin with the same question: does the company have reliable data on packaging?

Three situations in which a company based in Łódź should urgently check its PPWR

1. The company is changing the way it packages its products

Changing the cardboard, film, label, filler or outer packaging may seem like a minor purchasing decision. From an environmental perspective, however, it can alter the data that a company uses for record-keeping and reporting.

Any permanent change to the packaging should trigger an update to the environmental data.

2. The company is expanding its online sales

E-commerce is rapidly increasing the number of individual shipments. The use of cardboard boxes, envelopes, packing materials and labels is on the rise. Added to this are returns, complaints and repackaging.

If an online shop uses several sales systems, an external warehouse or a logistics provider, responsibility for the data may become unclear.

3. The company works with major clients

Large customers are increasingly asking about environmental compliance, the recyclability of packaging, material data and documentation. Even if a company has not yet been directly audited, it may be asked for information by a business partner.

Preparing for the PPWR also means preparing for questions from business partners.

Eko-Pro: based in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, serving businesses throughout Poland

Eko-Pro is an experienced environmental consultancy firm. The company states that, since 2015, it has been helping businesses to meet their environmental obligations on the Polish and EU markets.

Eko-Pro’s head office is located in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, in Zielona Góra. The company’s contact details and address are available on its contact page. This is its operational base, not a geographical limitation. Eko-Pro carries out projects for clients throughout Poland, including directly at their premises.

For companies in the Łódź Voivodeship, this means they can access consultancy services regardless of their location. The Eko-Pro team travels to clients’ premises, carries out audits at their premises and analyses documentation in relation to their actual processes. Distance is not a barrier to the provision of these services.

Nationwide experience is an advantage. A consultant who works with companies from different provinces and sectors is better placed to identify common errors in documentation, data flow, packaging classification, BDO records and environmental protection outsourcing.

Companies in the region can benefit from support in areas such as PPWR audit, environmental audit, comprehensive environmental consultancy and ongoing environmental services and outsourcing.

The Łódź environmental audit as the first stage in preparations for the PPWR

An environmental audit in Łódź should be regarded as a tool for checking whether a company has its documentation, waste, packaging and environmental obligations under control. Eko-Pro points out that an environmental audit allows for an objective assessment of whether a company’s operations comply with current environmental legislation.

In the context of the PPWR, the audit should address the following operational questions:

• Does the company have a complete list of packaging types,
• whether it distinguishes between unit, bulk and transport packaging,
• Does he know the weights and materials of the packaging,
• whether the data comes from reliable sources,
• Does the BDO correspond to actual waste and processes,
• Does the procurement department pass on information to those responsible for environmental matters,
• Are changes to packaging documented,
• Does the company have a procedure for handling returns and repackaging,
• Is responsibility for the PPWR assigned to specific individuals?.

An audit should not end with a general assessment

A business owner needs a list of actions to take. A good audit highlights what needs to be improved first, which data is unreliable, where the process is inconsistent, and whether the company needs one-off support or ongoing assistance.

In practice, an audit may reveal that the problem does not lie with the packaging itself, but with the way information is passed between departments.

The PPWR audit by BDO

It is worth analysing the PPWR in conjunction with the BDO and waste management. Eko-Pro points out that an environmental audit linked to the BDO makes it possible to check whether the BDO entry, waste codes, KPO, records and reports correspond to what is actually happening within the company.

This is important for manufacturing, warehousing, service and retail businesses. If a company’s waste data is disorganised, preparing for the PPWR will be more difficult.

Outsourcing environmental protection in the Łódź Voivodeship: when is it more cost-effective than employing staff in-house?

Environmental outsourcing in the Łódź Voivodeship is a solution for companies that have genuine environmental obligations but do not wish to set up a full in-house department. It works well where continuity is required: deadlines, reports, BDO, waste, packaging, audits and ongoing consultations.

Eko-Pro points out that comprehensive environmental consultancy may include outsourcing responsibilities, keeping records, preparing reports, submitting applications and ensuring deadlines are met.

When does outsourcing make sense?

Outsourcing is worth considering when a company:

• introduces products in packaging,
• operates an online shop,
• supports multiple distribution channels,
• imports products or components,
• uses an external warehouse,
• has variable packaging and multiple suppliers,
• generates non-household waste,
• there is no environmental protection specialist,
• wants to prepare for the PPWR without taking on a new member of staff,
• It requires ongoing monitoring of the BDO, KPO and reports.

Environmental outsourcing is not merely a matter of „keeping records”. In a well-managed company, it becomes an integral part of the compliance system.

Regular maintenance is particularly useful when changes are frequent

If a company frequently changes its product range, suppliers, packaging or sales channels, a one-off consultation quickly becomes out of date. A permanent adviser can respond to changes as they are being planned, rather than only after they have been implemented.

This is particularly important in retail, distribution and e-commerce companies, where packaging changes more quickly than procedures.

What might the implementation of the recommendations following a PPWR audit look like?

The report itself does not solve the problem. Following the audit, the company should translate the findings into practical actions.

Step 1: Organising the list of packages

The company should draw up an up-to-date list of packaging, broken down into unit, collective and transport packaging. The list should be linked to suppliers, products and processes.

Step 2: Identification of data subjects

Every piece of environmental information should have an owner. The procurement department may be responsible for data from suppliers, the warehouse for material consumption, the administration department for documentation, and senior management for strategic decisions.

Without data owners, the system quickly descends into chaos.

Step 3: updating procedures

The procedure should specify what happens when there is a change to the packaging, supplier, material composition, sales channel or method of dispatch. PPWR requires a system that continues to function even after an audit.

Step 4: Decision on ongoing support

If a company has numerous processes, branches or suppliers, or if its product range changes rapidly, it is worth considering permanent outsourcing of environmental management. This helps to maintain order once the audit is complete.

Frequently asked questions

Does the PPWR apply to companies in the Łódź Voivodeship?

Yes, if a company markets products in packaging, imports goods, sells online, uses transport packaging or generates packaging waste. Being based in Łódź, Piotrków Trybunalski, Pabianice, Zgierz, Kutno or Radomsko does not exempt a company from its obligations under the PPWR.

Does Eko-Pro serve businesses in the Łódź Voivodeship?

Yes. Eko-Pro is based in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, but operates throughout Poland. The team travels to clients, carries out audits at company premises and supports businesses regardless of their location.

How does a PPWR audit differ from a standard document review?

A PPWR audit should cover not only documents but also actual processes: packaging, repackaging, storage, dispatch, returns, waste, supplier data and departmental responsibilities. A review of documents alone may not identify operational gaps.

Could the environmental audit in Łódź also cover BDO?

Yes. An environmental audit may cover BDO, waste records, the National Waste Classification (KPO), reports, environmental documentation, packaging and packaging waste. When preparing for the PPWR, such a broader approach is often the most practical.

When should you opt for environmental outsourcing?

Outsourcing is a good option if a company regularly keeps records, submits reports, changes packaging, operates an e-commerce platform, imports goods, or does not have an in-house environmental specialist. Ongoing support reduces the risk of obligations being fulfilled too late or on the basis of incomplete data.

Does the PPWR consultancy firm in the Łódź Voivodeship have to have a local office in Łódź?

No. What matters more is experience, the ability to carry out audits at clients’ premises, knowledge of the regulations, and the ability to translate the PPWR into the company’s actual processes. Eko-Pro operates nationwide, which is why it can serve businesses in the Łódź Voivodeship despite being based in the Lubusz Voivodeship.

Please contact Eko-Pro

If your company operates in the Łódź Voivodeship and you wish to check whether your packaging, BDO, waste and environmental documentation are ready for the PPWR, please contact Eko-Pro. Our team can carry out an audit at your company’s premises, analyse your packaging and dispatch processes, identify gaps in your data and propose an action plan.

Eko-Pro serves businesses throughout Poland. Distance is no obstacle — our advisers travel to clients, analyse processes on site and support businesses with PPWR audits, environmental protection, BDO documentation and environmental outsourcing.

Visit the website Contact Eko-Pro and find out how to organise your company’s packaging obligations before the PPWR becomes an urgent operational issue.