PPWR consultancy services in the Podlaskie Voivodeship: packaging for the food industry, the retail sector and businesses near the EU border

In the Podlaskie Voivodeship, packaging very often has a direct impact on the product, the brand and customer trust. This applies in particular to companies in the food, dairy, meat, cereal, organic, retail, logistics and e-commerce sectors. In such businesses, packaging is not merely a box, a film or a label. It protects the product, preserves its quality, facilitates transport, informs the consumer and gives rise to environmental obligations. PPWR’s consultancy services in the Podlaskie Voivodeship help companies to ascertain whether they are aware of the types of packaging they use, what packaging waste is generated by their operations, and whether their environmental documentation is ready to meet the new requirements.

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.

For businesses in Białystok, Suwałki, Łomża, Augustów, Bielsk Podlaski, Zambrów, Grajewo, Hajnówka, Sokółka, Siemiatycze or Wysokie Mazowieckie, the key question is: can the company link packaging data with production, deliveries, warehousing, cold storage, sales, BDO and waste?

Podlaskie and PPWR: a region committed to product quality must ensure the quality of its packaging data

Podlaskie is a region with strong links to agriculture and food processing. The Polish Investment and Trade Agency describes the province as a predominantly agricultural region, with a growing food, dairy, meat, poultry and cereal sector, as well as light industry, the timber industry, the construction sector and the engineering sector. This means that the Regional Economic Development Plan (PPWR) should be analysed differently here than in regions dominated by logistics centres, heavy industry or corporate headquarters.

In the Podlasie region, packaging is often seen as contributing to a product’s credibility.

Whether a company sells dairy products, meat, regional specialities, organic food, chilled products, artisan goods or goods shipped to B2B customers, packaging affects quality, safety, transport, product identification and brand perception.

PPWR adds yet another dimension to this: environmental compliance.

Why should the food industry prepare in advance?

In the food sector, packaging changes more frequently than one might think. A new label, a different tray, a different type of film, larger bulk packaging, a promotional product, a seasonal range, a shipping carton, cold store packaging or protective material for transport — any such change can have an impact on environmental data.

Food packaging serves a quality, commercial and environmental purpose all at once.

Therefore, a PPWR audit should not be limited to checking the finished product on the shelf. It should also cover the packaging of raw materials, components, additives, auxiliary materials, labels, master cartons and transport packaging.

The dairy industry in Podlasie as an example of the complexity of packaging

The dairy sector is a good example, as it combines production, refrigeration, logistics, exports, and individual, bulk and transport packaging. Industry sources indicate that Podlaskie is one of the provinces with the strongest presence of milk production and processing in Poland.

This does not mean that PPWR applies exclusively to large dairies. Similar mechanisms are also found in smaller food businesses, family-run businesses, wholesalers, local producers, online food retailers and companies providing regional delivery services.

The shorter the product’s shelf life and the more demanding the transport, the more important it is to manage packaging correctly.

Challenges faced by businesses in relation to the PPWR

The PPWR replaces the previous directive on packaging and packaging waste and introduces more uniform rules for the European Union market. For businesses in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, this means they need to review not only the packaging itself, but the entire system: from the purchase of materials, through production, storage and sales, to waste management and documentation.

Challenge 1: packaging for fresh and chilled products

Fresh produce requires packaging that safeguards quality, hygiene and shelf life. This may include cups, bottles, cling film, lids, trays, labels, bulk packaging, refrigerated cartons, dividers, transport containers and pallets.

A company may be familiar with the product packaging, but may not analyse the outer packaging or the materials used in the cold chain.

This is a vulnerability that the PPWR audit should have detected.

Challenge 2: numerous short series and seasonality

Food companies and local brands often launch seasonal ranges: festive products, gift sets, new flavours, promotional packaging, small batches for partner shops, or variants tailored to a specific customer group.

Each short run may have different packaging.

If a company treats these as marketing initiatives rather than changes in environmental conditions, the documentation soon ceases to reflect reality.

Challenge 3: Packaging for raw materials and additives

In the food processing industry, a significant amount of packaging waste is generated on the supply side. Sacks, plastic film, containers, cardboard boxes, buckets and packaging for additives, labels, auxiliary raw materials and consumables are delivered to the plant.

These packaging items are not visible to the end customer, but they are visible within the waste management system.

The audit should verify whether packaging relating to purchasing and production is included in BDO’s documentation and waste records.

Challenge 4: Local, wholesale and online sales all at the same time

The same product may be sold in a local shop, a wholesaler, a retail chain, via an online shop, or to a restaurant. Each sales channel may require different bulk, transport or dispatch packaging.

When it comes to PPWR, it is not enough to know what the product is packaged in. You need to know how the product reaches the customer.

For companies based in Białystok, Łomża, Suwałki or Bielsk Podlaski, this means they need to segment their data by distribution channel.

Challenge 5: The European Union’s borders and international trade

Podlaskie has a unique location. PAIH points out that the province lies on the EU’s internal border with Lithuania and its external border with Belarus. For companies that import, export or handle the movement of goods, this means an additional need to organise documents from suppliers and information for business partners.

If a company receives goods in packaging from abroad or sends products to recipients outside Poland, it should check whether the information on the packaging is complete and clear.

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

The PPWR consultancy firm in the Podlaskie Voivodeship should understand that, in the food and retail sectors, packaging is not merely an accessory to the product. It forms part of the quality, logistics, branding and environmental processes.

An external specialist can assess where a company’s decisions are based on facts and where they are based on habit.

In many companies, packaging data is shared informally: the supplier provides it by email, the warehouse staff know it from experience, the accounts department has the invoices, the BDO representative keeps the records, and the sales department enters new product formats. As long as the company is operating smoothly, the system seems adequate. Problems arise when there is a change of supplier, a larger contract, a client audit, an export, or new PPWR requirements.

The adviser checks the product, the packaging and the waste together

The PPWR analysis should cover three levels:

1. the product and the way it is packaged,
2. packaging materials used in production and sales,
3. packaging waste generated at the plant, in the warehouse and during deliveries.

It is only by combining these three levels that it becomes clear whether the company has the full picture.

Good consultancy doesn’t start with a set procedure. It starts with the question: where exactly does packaging come into play within this company?

An audit reduces the risk of inconsistencies between quality and the environment

In the food industry, quality standards are usually of great importance. The problem is that quality documentation does not always contain the data required to meet environmental obligations.

The specification may describe the type of packaging, product safety and storage conditions, but may not specify the weight of the packaging, the material, the source of the data or how it is updated following a change of supplier.

PPWR requires that quality data and environmental data begin to work together.

External support clarifies responsibilities

In practice, it is worth establishing who is responsible for each element:

• purchasing — data from suppliers of packaging and raw materials,
• production — packaging used in the process,
• warehouse — bulk packaging, transport packaging and waste,
• sales — distribution channels and packaging options,
• quality — requirements for food products,
• administration — BDO, records and documentation,
• management — decisions on risk, the budget and the implementation of changes.

Without assigning responsibility, PPWR becomes a task shared across departments.

PPWR consultancy in the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the specific characteristics of local businesses

Podlaskie requires a different approach to industrial, tourist or corporate regions. What matters here is a combination of: agriculture, processing, dairy farming, local produce, cross-border trade, cold-chain logistics, timber, light manufacturing, small natural brands and family-run businesses.

The PPWR advisory service for the Podlaskie Voivodeship should take this diversity into account without resorting to generalisations.

Białystok: a centre for services, trade and document management

An environmental audit in Białystok should examine not only waste but also the flow of information. Companies in Białystok often combine administrative, sales, warehousing, service and e-commerce functions.

If decisions on purchasing packaging are made in the office, whilst consumption data is generated in the warehouse or at a site outside the city, a clear communication procedure is required.

Łomża, Zambrów and Wysokie Mazowieckie: dairy, food and bulk packaging

In companies involved in food production or distribution, bulk, transport and refrigerated packaging are of particular importance. Individual product packaging is only part of the picture.

The audit must also check cardboard boxes, plastic film, pallets, dividers, containers, labels and waste from raw materials.

Suwałki and Augustów: seasonality, trade and the flow of goods

Businesses in the northern part of the region can combine local, seasonal, tourist, wholesale and cross-border sales. This model results in fluctuating packaging consumption throughout the year.

Seasonality poses a risk to environmental data, as the annual average does not always reflect the actual spikes in packaging consumption.

Bielsk Podlaski, Hajnówka and Siemiatycze: local produce, wood, crafts and small-batch products

Companies producing local, natural, wood-based, handcrafted or food products often work with small batches and variable packaging. This increases the risk that the documentation will not keep pace with the commercial offering.

A small batch should also include packaging details.

Sokółka and the border regions: imports, exports and documents from business partners

When goods cross the border, documents from suppliers, details of transport packaging and clear accountability for record-keeping are particularly important. A company should not only find out about any shortfalls when a business partner requests information.

Five situations in which a company based in Podlasie should check its PPWR

1. The company is changing the packaging of a food product

A new cup, bottle, tray, cling film, label or bulk carton may require an update to its environmental data. Any technological or marketing changes should also be reflected in the documentation.

2. The plant receives raw materials in a variety of packaging types

Bags, buckets, containers, plastic film and cardboard boxes from raw materials form a waste stream that may be underestimated if a company only analyses packaging sent out to customers.

3. The company sells the same product through different channels

Local, wholesale, online and export sales may require different types of packaging. The data should take into account the distribution channel, not just the product itself.

4. The contractor enquires about the composition of the packaging

If a customer asks for information regarding materials, recyclability or environmental compliance, the company should have the data ready, rather than having to gather it under time pressure.

5. The BDO is being carried out, but nobody is checking the warehouse

Records alone are not enough if they do not reflect reality. The audit should check whether the packaging waste visible in the warehouse and on the production floor matches the documentation.

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

Eko-Pro is an experienced consultancy firm based in the Lubuskie Voivodeship. The firm’s location does not limit the scope of its operations. Eko-Pro serves businesses throughout Poland, travelling to clients and carrying out audits directly at their premises.

For entrepreneurs in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, this means they can access specialist support regardless of their location. Distance is not a barrier to the provision of services.

In the case of food, retail and manufacturing companies, it is particularly important for the consultant to see the process first-hand: the receipt of raw materials, the warehouse, the cold store, the packing area, post-delivery waste, BDO documentation and the flow of information between staff.

Eko-Pro’s nationwide experience offers added value to local businesses, as it enables them to compare solutions used across different sectors and organisational models. A company from the Podlaskie region can thus benefit from expertise developed not only within the region, but also by businesses in other provinces.

Depending on their needs, business owners can make use of services such as PPWR audit, environmental audit, comprehensive environmental consultancy and environmental outsourcing.

Environmental audit in Białystok: how to assess packaging in a food, retail or manufacturing company?

An environmental audit in Białystok should be a practical review of the company’s operations, rather than merely a check of filing cabinets. When carrying out a PPWR, it is necessary to verify whether the documentation corresponds to what actually happens in relation to purchasing, production, packaging, storage, dispatch and waste generation.

What should a pre-PPWR audit cover?

The scope of the audit depends on the sector, but for companies in the Podlasie region, it is worth checking the following:

• unit, bulk and transport packaging,
• packaging for fresh and chilled products,
• packaging for raw materials, additives and auxiliary materials,
• cardboard boxes, cling film, trays, containers, labels and pallets,
• packaging used for online sales,
• seasonal and promotional packaging,
• waste generated in the warehouse, cold store and production areas,
• data on weights and materials,
• documents from suppliers,
• BDO, KPO and waste records,
• the procedure for updating data following a change to the packaging,
• employees’ responsibility for environmental information.

An audit should answer not only the question „are the documents in place?”, but also „do the documents accurately reflect the company’s actual operations?”.

The audit should identify where data becomes out of date

In many companies, the biggest problem arises when changes are made: a new label supplier, a different bottle, a replacement film, a larger master carton, a new online shop, an additional wholesale customer or a seasonal promotional campaign.

If a change to the packaging does not trigger an update to the environmental data, the company loses control.

Therefore, the recommendations following the audit should be practical: what needs to be improved, who should be responsible for the data, what documents to collect from suppliers, and how to link PPWR to BDO.

Environmental outsourcing in the Podlaskie Voivodeship: ongoing support for companies without a dedicated environmental department

Outsourcing environmental management in the Podlaskie Voivodeship is a good solution for companies that have genuine obligations but do not wish to set up a full-scale environmental department. This applies in particular to food producers, wholesalers, retail businesses, processing plants, local brands, online shops and companies providing B2B delivery services.

Ongoing support may be more beneficial than a one-off consultation if a company frequently changes its products, suppliers, labels, packaging ranges or sales channels.

When does outsourcing make the most sense?

Outsourcing is worth considering when a company:

• is led by BDO,
• generates packaging waste,
• uses many types of food packaging,
• sells chilled or fresh products,
• operates a local and online sales service,
• exports or imports goods,
• operates seasonally,
• has a small range of products,
• does not have its own environmental protection officer,
• wants to prepare for the PPWR without overburdening the administration.

Outsourcing is not just about meeting deadlines. In the context of PPWR, it can become a system for the ongoing monitoring of packaging.

How does a permanent adviser help a company?

A permanent adviser can assist a company with:

• updating packaging data,
• verification of documents from suppliers,
• BDO staff,
• analysis of packaging waste,
• the preparation of internal procedures,
• in replies to questions from business partners,
• the evaluation of new product ranges,
• monitoring changes to labels, films and cartons,
• preparing the company for an audit or inspection.

This means the company does not have to start from scratch every time the packaging is changed.

Podlasie PPWR checklist for food, retail and manufacturing businesses

Are you familiar with the packaging on the supply side?

Check what the raw materials, additives, products, components, labels and auxiliary materials are delivered in. This packaging often ends up as waste within the company.

Do you sort packaging by sales channel?

The same product may have different packaging for wholesale, online, local and export sales. The data should take this into account.

Do short runs have packaging specifications?

Seasonal products, gift sets and promotional ranges should also be included in the analysis.

Does the BDO reflect the reality in the warehouse?

Compare the documentation with what is actually happening in the warehouse, cold store, production area and during dispatch.

Do suppliers provide data on weights and materials?

If the data is incomplete, estimated or out of date, it must be verified before implementing the PPWR measures.

Frequently asked questions

Does the PPWR apply to food businesses in the Podlaskie Voivodeship?

Yes, if a company markets products in packaging, uses bulk or transport packaging, generates packaging waste, sells online, or exports or imports products or raw materials. The PPWR may apply to both large factories and smaller local brands.

Can an environmental audit in Białystok cover a food processing plant or a wholesale warehouse?

Yes. The audit may cover product packaging, delivery packaging, the cold store, the warehouse, packaging waste, BDO, data from suppliers, online sales and environmental documentation.

Does Eko-Pro deliver to businesses in the Podlaskie Voivodeship?

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

When is it worth opting for environmental outsourcing?

Outsourcing is a good option if a company carries out an environmental audit (BDO), generates waste, uses many different types of packaging, changes suppliers, operates on a seasonal basis, exports goods, or does not have its own environmental specialist. Ongoing support helps to maintain compliance following an audit.

Does the PPWR consultancy firm in the Podlaskie Voivodeship have to have an office in Białystok?

No. What matters more are experience, the ability to carry out audits at the client’s premises, knowledge of environmental obligations, and the ability to put the PPWR into practice within the company. Eko-Pro operates nationwide, which is why it can serve businesses in the Podlaskie region despite being based in Zielona Góra.

Does the PPWR also apply to packaging for raw materials?

Yes, the analysis carried out to prepare a company for the PPWR should take into account not only packaging sent to customers, but also packaging for raw materials, additives, auxiliary materials and supplies, if such packaging generates waste or is relevant to environmental documentation.

Please contact Eko-Pro

If you run a business in the Podlaskie Voivodeship and wish to check whether your food packaging, bulk packaging, transport packaging, waste, BDO and environmental documentation are ready for the PPWR, please contact Eko-Pro. Our team can carry out an audit at your company’s premises, review the packaging lifecycle from raw materials through to sale, and recommend practical measures to implement.

Eko-Pro serves clients throughout Poland. Distance is no obstacle — our advisers visit companies, analyse processes on site and support business owners with PPWR audits, environmental protection, BDO and environmental outsourcing.

Visit the website Contact Eko-Pro and check whether your company has its packaging under control before PPWR becomes an issue in production, sales or discussions with business partners.e Eko-Pro. Book a consultation via Contact Eko-Pro — We travel to carry out audits in the Podlaskie Voivodeship and throughout Poland.