PPWR consultancy services in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship: packaging in the food, timber, yachting and tourism sectors

The Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship has a unique character that cannot be reduced to the simple slogan „local businesses and waste”. In this region, packaging arises in food production, the dairy industry, processing, timber, furniture, boats, yachts, tourism services, seasonal trade and online sales. PPWR’s consultancy services in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship should therefore address the question of whether a company is able to manage packaging not only in its records, but also in relation to seasonal fluctuations, deliveries, warehousing, transport and cooperation with customers.

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 Olsztyn, Elbląg, Ełk, Ostróda, Iława, Giżycko, Kętrzyn, Mrągowo, Szczytno, Bartoszyce, Lidzbark Warmiński and Olecko, the PPWR may be particularly significant where packaging serves more than one purpose: it protects product quality, facilitates transport, builds brand image and, at the same time, entails environmental obligations.

A map of packaging in Warmia-Masuria: food, timber, water and seasonality

The Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship is a region where the economy is closely linked to natural resources, food, timber and tourism. Regional investment materials identify tourism, healthy food production, the timber industry, machinery manufacturing, yacht building and ecotourism, amongst others, as leading sectors. PAIH also emphasises the importance of the agri-food, timber and tourism sectors in the region.

This has direct implications for the PPWR.

Packaging produced by a company in Warmia and Mazury could be a cardboard box for a food product, protective film for furniture, a crate for a yacht component, a sack for raw materials, a label for a regional product, transport packaging for a cold store, or material used only during the tourist season.

It is not worth describing such a region solely through the prism of general environmental administration. What is needed here is an analysis of packaging flows within specific sectors.

High-quality food and packaging that comes into contact with the product

Food companies must ensure the quality, safety and shelf life of their products. Packaging forms part of this process. This may include bottles, cups, cling film, lids, labels, trays, master cartons, refrigerated containers, pallets and protective materials.

Under the PPWR, it is necessary to check not only the finished product packaging, but also the packaging of raw materials, additives, auxiliary materials and components.

Food packaging is both a factor in product quality and an environmental consideration.

Timber, furniture and protective packaging

Timber and furniture companies use packaging that protects their products from damage, moisture, scratches and dirt. In practice, these include films, cardboard boxes, corner protectors, dividers, foam padding, tape, pallets, bulk packaging and transport protection.

In a company like this, the problem isn’t just the number of packages. The problem is the variability in dimensions, batches, products and delivery methods.

The same product may be packaged differently for retail, for B2B customers, for export, and for internal transport.

Yachts, boats and large-scale items

The manufacture of yachts and boats involves specific packaging risks. Hull parts, fittings, technical components, windows, hardware, electronics, accessories and finishing materials may require specialised protective measures.

In this sector, packaging is often non-standard, technical and designed for a specific mode of transport.

For PPWR, this means it is necessary to check whether the company is aware of the weight, material, function and subsequent disposal of non-standard packaging, and not just standard cardboard boxes and plastic film.

Tourism and the seasonal surge in packaging

Warmia and Mazury have a strong tourism sector. During the tourist season, packaging consumption rises in the hospitality industry, the hotel sector, rental businesses, shops, catering companies, souvenir shops, and among providers of regional products and services by the lakes.

Seasonality poses a risk to environmental data.

If a company calculates its packaging requirements on the basis of average figures, it may not be able to see the actual workload during the peak months.

PPWR at a company in Warmia and Mazury: three cycles that need to be separated

The biggest mistake when preparing for the PPWR is treating all packaging as a single category. In many companies in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, it is worth separating packaging into three streams: incoming packaging, packaging used in business operations, and outgoing packaging sent to customers.

The PPWR applies to packaging and packaging waste, and the new regulation replaces the previous Packaging Directive. For businesses, this means they must organise their data, not just their declarations.

Process 1: Incoming packaging

These are packaging materials for raw materials, additives, components, wooden panels, metal parts, yacht parts, hotel supplies, food products or consumables.

They don’t reach the customer, but often end up as waste within the company.

If the BDO does not show what happens after deliveries have been unpacked, the environmental documentation may be incomplete.

Stream 2: packaging used in the process

These are materials used during order picking, packaging, protection, storage, refrigeration, warehousing or seasonal operations. They may circulate internally, be reused, or become waste after several cycles.

In the furniture and yachting industries, such packaging may take the form of bespoke product protection. In the food industry, it may be a container, cling film, label or bulk packaging. In the tourism sector, it may be packaging used for deliveries, catering or seasonal sales.

Process 3: Outgoing parcels to customers

These include packaging for the final product, shipping cartons, pallets, transport protection, labels, bulk packaging, promotional sets and materials used in e-commerce.

With PPWR, it is not enough to know what product the company sells. You need to know how the product leaves the company.

The same product may generate different packaging data for local, wholesale, online, seasonal and export sales.

Challenges faced by businesses in relation to the PPWR

Companies in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship may have very different profiles, but many of the same issues arise regardless of the sector. These most commonly relate to data, seasonality, transport packaging and responsibility for keeping documentation up to date.

Challenge 1: Seasonal fluctuations in sales and purchasing

In tourist regions, some businesses use more packaging in just a few months of the year than during the rest of the season. This applies to the catering sector, hotels, shops, local food producers, service providers, event organisers and e-commerce businesses catering to tourists.

If the documentation is based on data from a quiet period, it may not reflect the actual flow of packaging.

The PPWR audit should take the peak season into account, not just an average month of operations.

Challenge 2: Packaging for fragile products

Food, dairy products, chilled goods, regional specialities, natural cosmetics, wooden items and boat components may require protective packaging. A company may focus on product quality whilst overlooking environmental considerations relating to packaging.

Qualitative data is not always environmental data.

The product specification may describe shelf life, transport and storage conditions, but does not necessarily need to include the weight of the packaging, the material, the functions or how the product is to be included in environmental documentation.

Challenge 3: packaging left behind after deliveries to a factory or hotel

A company may be very familiar with the packaging of its own products, but overlook the packaging used by its suppliers. In a hotel, this would include packaging for cleaning products, catering supplies and equipment. In a food processing plant — packaging for raw materials and additives. In furniture manufacturing — plastic film, pallets, corner protectors, cardboard boxes and protective packaging for components.

Goods arriving at the company may also give rise to environmental obligations.

Challenge 4: large-size and non-standard packaging

In the manufacture of furniture, boats, wooden components and machinery, packaging that does not have a standard format poses a problem. A company can produce protective packaging tailored to a specific product or transport requirement.

In that case, the standard „cardboard X, film Y” table isn’t enough.

A procedure is required for describing non-standard packaging: material, weight, function, frequency of use, reusability and the point at which the waste is generated.

Challenge 5: the company’s various roles in the supply chain

A business may be a manufacturer, distributor, importer, subcontractor, hotel, shop, exporter or online retailer. Each role may entail a different set of responsibilities.

A company should define its role for each significant packaging stream.

This is particularly important when a company combines several areas of business, such as food production, retail, B2B deliveries and an online shop.

PPWR consultancy firm, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship: why have an external audit?

The PPWR consultancy firm in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship should view a business not as a collection of documents, but as a system for the flow of materials. In this region, it is particularly important to assess how packaging performs during peak seasons, in cold stores, in warehouses, during dispatch, with timber products, with yachts, with regional products and in online sales.

The audit uncovers discrepancies between what is stated and what actually happens

The documents may specify a single type of packaging. In practice, the warehouse uses three alternatives. The supplier changes the label. The hotel orders different packaging during the high season. The furniture manufacturer uses more bubble wrap for long-distance shipments. The online shop adds padding to glass products. The food manufacturer launches a promotional pack.

These are all minor operational decisions that can alter the picture presented by environmental data.

The PPWR audit should identify such discrepancies before they become an issue in the BDO, in reporting or in discussions with a counterparty.

The adviser helps you create a simple map of the packaging

A packaging register does not have to be a complex IT system. For many companies, a well-organised list is sufficient:

packaging,
material,
mass,
data source,
function,
the department responsible,
place of use,
what to do after use,
link to the BDO or environmental documentation.

A map like this enables you to respond more quickly to changes in suppliers, seasonal increases in sales and new distribution channels.

External support makes it easier to hold discussions with business partners

Food, furniture, yachting and export companies may receive enquiries about packaging from B2B customers. A business partner may ask about the material, recyclability, weight, packaging method or compliance with environmental requirements.

Preparing for the PPWR also means preparing for customers’ questions.

A company with well-organised data responds more quickly and reliably.

Local circumstances: where do packaging risks arise in Warmia and Masuria?

The Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship should not be treated as a carbon copy of other regions. What matters here is diversity: Olsztyn as an administrative and service centre, Elbląg with its industry and port and technical infrastructure, Ełk as a hub in the eastern part of the region, Ostróda and Iława with their timber, furniture and industrial sectors, Giżycko and Mrągowo with tourism and water-based activities, as well as smaller towns specialising in food production and seasonal services.

Olsztyn: documentation, services, trade and production facilities

An environmental audit in Olsztyn should examine not only the documents, but also the flow of information between the office, the warehouse, production and sales. Companies based in Olsztyn may manage sales, e-commerce, distribution or branches located outside the city.

If decisions on the purchase of packaging are made in the office, whilst waste is generated in the warehouse, a data transfer procedure is required.

Elbląg: industry, technical components and transport packaging

In technical, manufacturing and service companies, packaging for components, parts, tools, equipment, specialist materials and B2B shipments can be crucial. Pallets, crates, protective packaging, films, straps and returnable packaging are particularly important in this context.

Ełk, Olecko and Gołdap: production, trade and the movement of goods

In the eastern part of the region, it is worth noting companies that combine trade, warehousing, production and deliveries to other provinces. Packaging can be produced at the same time as goods are received and dispatched.

Ostróda and Iława: timber, furniture and protective packaging

In companies involved in the timber, furniture and fittings sectors, packaging often serves a protective function. Films, foam, corner protectors, cardboard boxes and pallets should be analysed not only as a packaging cost, but as data required to assess environmental responsibilities.

Giżycko, Mrągowo and Mikołajki: the tourist season, dining and local produce

In tourist destinations, the season can have a dramatic impact on the volume of packaging. Restaurants, hotels, shops, regional produce retailers and waterside service providers should check whether their environmental data is based solely on the off-season.

Five situations in which a company from Warmia and Mazury should check its PPWR

1. The company is experiencing a seasonal increase in sales

If packaging volumes increase during the summer season, this should be reflected in the documentation. This applies to hotels, the catering sector, shops, e-commerce and local producers.

2. The product requires refrigeration or special protection

Packaging for fresh, chilled, fragile, wooden, glass or bulky products should include details of the material, weight and function.

3. The company ships furniture, wooden components or boat parts

Protective packaging may be non-standard. It is necessary to establish whether the company is able to describe it and include it in the documentation.

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

Sacks, plastic film, pallets, cardboard boxes, containers and additive packaging can constitute a significant waste stream on the supply side.

5. The BDO is in place, but no one checks the actual flow of packaging

The documentation should be checked against the warehouse, cold store, production area, catering facilities and waste collection point.

Eko-Pro: based in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, serving businesses in Warmia and Mazury 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 Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, this means they can access specialist support regardless of their location. Distance is not a barrier to the provision of services.

For companies in the food, furniture, yachting, tourism and retail sectors, it is particularly important for the consultant to see the processes on site: goods receipt, the warehouse, the cold store, the packing area, seasonal facilities, raw material waste, BDO documentation and the flow of information between staff.

Eko-Pro’s nationwide experience offers added value to local businesses. It enables organisations to compare solutions used across different sectors and regions, and then adapt them to their specific needs, without creating unnecessarily complex procedures.

Businesses in Warmia and Masuria can make use of services such as PPWR audit, environmental audit, comprehensive environmental consultancy and environmental outsourcing.

Environmental audit in Olsztyn: how to assess packaging in a seasonal, food or manufacturing business?

An environmental audit in Olsztyn should be a practical check to ensure that the environmental documentation accurately reflects the company’s actual operations. Under the PPWR, it is necessary to analyse not only waste, but also the packaging used prior to the generation of waste: purchased, received, used, dispatched, returned, damaged and handed over to the recipient.

What should a pre-PPWR audit cover?

When looking at a company based in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, it’s worth checking:

unit, bulk and transport packaging,
packaging for food, fresh and chilled products,
film, cardboard boxes, labels, pallets, containers and packing materials,
protective packaging for furniture, timber and fragile items,
custom packaging for boats, yachts and technical components,
packaging used seasonally,
packaging from deliveries of raw materials and components,
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.

The audit should answer the question of whether the company knows where the packaging begins and ends its journey.

The audit should take the peak season into account

In a region with strong seasonality, an audit based solely on data from quieter months may not provide the full picture. It is worth analysing periods of increased sales, larger deliveries, higher visitor numbers and more frequent dispatch.

The summer season may have a greater impact on packaging design than a change of supplier.

The audit should therefore examine not only the annual averages, but also the periods of peak demand.

The audit should result in simple tools

For many companies, the following will be most useful:

map of packaging by season,
list of packaging items following deliveries,
register of non-standard packaging,
the procedure for changing supplier,
the division of responsibilities between departments,
list of missing data from suppliers,
recommendations regarding BDO,
a decision on whether permanent outsourcing of environmental protection is required.

Environmental outsourcing in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship: when is ongoing support better than a one-off audit?

Outsourcing environmental management in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship is worth considering when a company has variable processes, seasonal peaks in activity, a wide variety of packaging types, or does not have its own environmental specialist. A one-off audit can highlight any gaps. Ongoing support helps to maintain order when a company changes suppliers, its product range, packaging, sales channels or the scale of its operations.

When does outsourcing make the most sense?

It is worth considering a long-term service contract if the company:

is led by BDO,
generates packaging waste,
manufactures food or chilled products,
operates seasonally,
runs a hotel, a catering business or a tourist shop,
manufactures furniture, wooden components, yachts or boats,
uses non-standard packaging,
sells via e-commerce,
exports products,
does not have its own environmental protection officer,
wants to prepare for the PPWR without overburdening the administration.

Outsourcing should not be seen merely as a means of ensuring deadlines are met. With PPWR, it can serve as a permanent system for monitoring changes to packaging.

How does a permanent adviser help a company?

A permanent adviser can assist a company with:

updating packaging data,
checking documents from suppliers,
BDO staff,
analysis of packaging waste,
the preparation of internal procedures,
evaluation of seasonal packaging,
in replies to questions from business partners,
the evaluation of new packaging formats,
preparing the company for an audit or inspection.

This means the company does not have to start from scratch every time there is a change of season, product or supplier.

The Warmian-Masurian PPWR checklist for businesses

Is the company familiar with seasonal packaging?

Take a look at packaging used exclusively during the tourist season, when sales are higher, and in connection with events, the catering industry, the hotel sector and regional products.

Do non-standard packages have any details?

Protective measures for furniture, wooden items, boats, yachts and delicate products should include a description of the material, weight and function.

Does BDO show packaging on the supply side?

Check the waste generated from raw materials, components, additives, cleaning products, hotel supplies and food products.

Does the company separate its sales channels?

Local, wholesale, online, seasonal and export sales may result in different types of packaging.

Do suppliers provide up-to-date data?

If the data on the weight and material of packaging is approximate, out of date or scattered across emails, it must be organised before the PPWR is implemented.

Frequently asked questions

Does the PPWR apply to companies in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship?

Yes, if a company markets products in packaging, uses transport packaging, generates packaging waste, operates an e-commerce business, operates on a seasonal basis, manufactures food, furniture, wooden components or boats, or uses packaging received with deliveries. Being based in Olsztyn, Elbląg, Ełk, Ostróda, Iława or Giżycko does not exempt a company from its obligations under the PPWR.

Can an environmental audit in Olsztyn cover a seasonal business?

Yes. An audit may cover a seasonal business, a hotel, a catering establishment, a shop, a local producer, an e-commerce business or a manufacturing plant. Such an audit must examine not only average packaging consumption but also the periods of peak sales.

Does Eko-Pro deliver to businesses in Warmia and Masuria?

Yes. Eko-Pro is based in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, but provides services throughout Poland. The team travels to clients’ premises, carries out audits at company sites and analyses processes directly on site.

Does the PPWR apply to packaging for furniture, timber, yachts and boats?

Yes, if such packaging serves a packaging function, is used in sales, transport, product protection or deliveries, or becomes packaging waste. Particular attention should be paid to plastic film, pallets, cardboard boxes, dividers, foam and non-standard protective packaging.

When is it worth opting for environmental outsourcing?

Outsourcing is a good option if a company carries out an environmental audit (BDO), generates waste, operates on a seasonal basis, changes its packaging, has multiple suppliers, manufactures products requiring special protection, or does not have its own environmental specialist. Ongoing support helps to maintain compliance following an audit.

Does the PPWR consultancy firm in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship have to have an office in Olsztyn?

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

Please contact Eko-Pro

If you run a business in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and wish to check whether your seasonal packaging, food packaging, furniture 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, assess the actual flow of packaging and suggest 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 control over its packaging before PPWR becomes a seasonal, production or contractual issue.