PPWR consultancy services in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship: packaging for imports, exports, port logistics and tourism

In the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, packaging very often crosses company boundaries faster than the document describing it. Goods may arrive from Germany, pass through a port, be repackaged in a warehouse, travel by ferry to Scandinavia, return as a B2B return consignment, or be sold seasonally along the coast. PPWR’s consultancy services in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship should therefore focus on the flow of packaging between the supplier, the port, the warehouse, the transport operator, the business partner, the tourism sector and environmental documentation.

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 Szczecin, Świnoujście, Koszalin, Kołobrzeg, Stargard, Police, Goleniów, Gryfice, Wałcz, Białogard, Myślibórz or Szczecinek, preparations for the PPWR should begin with the following questions: where does the packaging come from, who handles it, where is the waste generated, and is the data consistent throughout the entire supply chain?

The West Pomeranian context of the PPWR: a region of ports, borders and multiple supply routes

The West Pomeranian Voivodeship has a unique character that cannot be reduced to mere local business support. The Polish Investment and Trade Agency points out that the region’s economy benefits from direct access to the Baltic Sea via the port of Szczecin and from its proximity to Germany and the Scandinavian countries; the region is associated, amongst other things, with shipyards and agriculture, but is also developing other sectors of the economy.

This means that the packaging at the West Pomeranian company may be linked to:

• the import of goods and components,
• exports to Germany, Scandinavia and other EU countries,
• by ferry,
• port transhipment,
• storage and repackaging,
• support services for the fishing and processing industries,
• the shipbuilding and maritime industries,
• coastal tourism,
• seasonal sales,
• B2B trade,
• e-commerce and courier logistics.

Handling in the port area forms part of the international supply chain.

Therefore, a PPWR analysis should not be limited to what the company purchases in Poland. It is also necessary to check packaging arriving from abroad, packaging used for exports, documents from business partners, and waste generated after unpacking goods.

The port, the ferry, the warehouse: three places where packaging changes status

Due to the ports and terminals in the region, packaging is often involved in several processes at once. Official information from the Port of Szczecin-Świnoujście indicates that the ferry terminal in Świnoujście operates a ro-ro service for cars, lorries, semi-trailers and railway wagons, as well as daily connections to Ystad and Trelleborg.

This is important for PPWR because the packaging may serve a different purpose depending on the stage of the supply chain.

1. The packaging comes with the goods

The company imports components, parts, fish, foodstuffs, industrial chemicals, equipment, commercial goods and raw materials. Packaging from deliveries is left in the warehouse or at the plant.

This could be a cardboard box, plastic film, a crate, a pallet, a container, a barrel, a sack, a divider, packing material or transport protection.

If such packaging becomes waste within the company, it should be accounted for in the waste management system and documentation.

2. The packaging is changed in the warehouse

In the warehouse, goods may be repackaged, labelled, grouped into sets, divided into smaller batches or secured for onward transport. This is a typical risk area.

Repackaging changes the packaging details.

If a company changes the type of cardboard, adds plastic film, uses new labels, employs different pallets or adds protective measures for sea transport, the environmental documentation should take this into account.

3. The parcel is dispatched to the customer

Exports, B2B deliveries, ferry transport, shipments to Scandinavia or deliveries to retail chains may require different packaging to domestic sales. Sometimes the customer specifies the pallet format, label type, method of securing the goods or requirements regarding returnable packaging.

With PPWR, you need to know not only the product, but also the delivery destination.

The same product may be packaged differently for a local customer, for a customer in Germany and for a business partner in Sweden.

Challenges faced by businesses in relation to the PPWR in the maritime region

The PPWR replaces the existing directive on packaging and packaging waste and introduces more uniform rules for the European Union market. For businesses in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, situations in which packaging passes through several countries, several operators or several logistics stages will be of particular importance.

Challenge 1: Import packaging without complete details

A business may receive goods in their packaging but not be provided with full details of their weight, material and composition. This applies in particular to trading, engineering, processing and manufacturing companies that purchase components or products from abroad.

The lack of data from the supplier does not resolve the problem. It simply shifts the burden onto the company that has to prepare the documentation.

The PPWR audit should verify whether the data on imported packaging is complete, up to date and verifiable.

Challenge 2: exports and varying customer requirements

A company shipping goods to Germany, Denmark, Sweden or other EU countries may be asked questions about packaging, recyclability, material weights, registration schemes and producer responsibility. Eko-Pro points out that it supports companies operating internationally, including with regard to obligations concerning the registration of products and packaging in foreign databases and environmental registers.

An export requires data that can be shown to the business partner.

If a company answers a foreign client’s questions based on estimates, it risks delays in the collaboration, data inconsistencies or having to organise documents at short notice under time pressure.

Challenge 3: Packaging in the fish and food industries

Companies involved in fishing, cold storage, processing, and the trade in fish and food can make use of packaging that serves hygienic, quality-assurance and transport purposes. These may include crates, cling film, containers, trays, cardboard boxes, labels, refrigerated packaging, insulating materials and pallets.

Food packaging in maritime and refrigerated transport is not just a matter of marketing.

It forms part of product safety, logistics and environmental data. Under the PPWR, checks must be carried out on both packaging sent to customers and packaging from raw materials and deliveries.

Challenge 4: the maritime and shipbuilding industries and technical packaging

Companies in the maritime, shipbuilding, metalworking, engineering and maintenance sectors can make use of technical packaging: crates, special pallets, anti-corrosion protection, film, containers, cardboard boxes for parts, packaging for technical chemicals and auxiliary materials.

In a company like this, the packaging may not look like traditional product packaging.

The PPWR audit should cover not only the sale of finished products, but also the service facilities, the parts warehouse, the receipt of deliveries and waste from materials used in technical operations.

Challenge 5: the tourist season and a sudden increase in packaging

The seaside resort operates seasonally. Hotels, restaurants, shops, catering companies, service providers, hire firms, sellers of regional products and e-commerce businesses serving tourists may use significantly more packaging during a few months of the year.

The seaside season could double the packaging problem before the company has time to update its figures.

When conducting a PPWR audit, it is important to take into account not only the average month but also the peak season: deliveries, catering, takeaway packaging, regional products, cartons, cling film, containers and waste from supplies.

PPWR consultancy firm in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship: what should it check?

The PPWR consultancy firm in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship should, first and foremost, analyse the flow of goods across borders, through ports and warehouses, and in relation to seasonal fluctuations. A ready-made procedural template is not sufficient if the company operates in the fields of import, export, logistics, processing or tourism.

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

The audit should begin by looking at the flow directions

In the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, the first question isn’t: „How many cartons does the company have?”. A better question is: „In which directions do the goods move?”.

We need to separate:

• domestic deliveries,
• import,
• exports,
• ferry services,
• transport to Scandinavia,
• local sales,
• seasonal sales,
• repacking,
• storage,
• waste generated following the receipt of goods.

The delivery destination affects the type of packaging and the documentation requirements.

The audit should establish who holds the data

Information on packaging may be held by the importer, manufacturer, freight forwarder, warehouse operator, overseas supplier, the procurement department or in the customer’s records. If a company does not know where to look for this information, PPWR will become an organisational problem.

The audit should determine:

• who collects data from suppliers,
• Who checks the packaging after it has been unpacked,
• Who updates the data after repackaging,
• who is responsible for export packaging,
• Who runs BDO,
• who answers questions from business partners.

Without the data owner, the company will have to start from scratch every time.

The audit should cover the warehouse, not just the transport documents

In the port area, it is easy to focus on transport documents, customs paperwork, invoices and contracts. With PPWR, however, you need to see what is actually happening to the packages.

The magazine will show you more than just a spreadsheet.

There, you can see plastic film left over from deliveries, damaged pallets, returnable packaging, cardboard boxes that held components, containers that held raw materials, repackaging materials, labels and waste, which are not always listed in the commercial documents.

PPWR consultancy in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and the specific characteristics of local businesses

The West Pomeranian Voivodeship requires a separate approach, as it combines port, border, industrial, food, logistics, tourism and commercial functions. This is not a region where it is enough to write in general terms about production and BDO.

Szczecin: port, warehouses, technical trade and documentation

The environmental audit in Szczecin should examine not only the entries in the BDO, but also the packaging used during import, transhipment, storage and repackaging. The port’s official website provides information on the operations of the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście, as well as details for investors, port services and port locations.

If a company operates at a port or uses the port’s goods handling system, it should check whether the environmental records include all packaging left over from deliveries.

Świnoujście: ferries, ro-ro vessels and containers on the Scandinavian route

In Świnoujście, ferry transport and the movement of goods to Sweden are particularly important. The ferry terminal operates services to Ystad and Trelleborg, which provides a natural setting for companies doing business with Scandinavia.

For PPWR, this means that packaging in cross-border deliveries must be inspected: pallets, labels, plastic film, returnable packaging, crates and transport securing devices.

Koszalin and Kołobrzeg: processing, trade and seaside tourism

Businesses in Koszalin and Kołobrzeg may combine local and seasonal sales, catering, retail, services and processing. Such businesses must take into account not only product packaging, but also packaging from supplies, seasonal increases in consumption and waste from deliveries.

Stargard, Goleniów and Police: industry, logistics and technical infrastructure

In manufacturing, chemical, warehousing and technical companies, the packaging of components, raw materials, auxiliary materials, parts and B2B supplies is important. The audit should check whether waste arising from the receipt of goods is correctly recorded in the documentation.

Szczecinek, Wałcz and Myślibórz: manufacturing, timber, furniture and inter-regional transport

In these parts of the region, protective packaging may be used, such as plastic film, corner protectors, pallets, dividers, cardboard boxes, foam and packaging for bulky items. Preparations for PPWR should also include non-standard transport protection measures.

Six situations in which a company in West Pomerania should check its PPWR

1. The company imports goods or components

Packaging from overseas deliveries may be left at the company as waste. It is necessary to check whether the details of this packaging are complete and whether the BDO figures are accurate.

2. The company ships goods to Germany or Scandinavia

Exporting may involve different requirements regarding packaging, labelling, pallets, security measures and the information provided to the trading partner.

3. The goods are repackaged in the warehouse

Repackaging alters the packaging details. The audit should establish who updates the documentation following such a change.

4. The company operates seasonally by the seaside

The tourist season may affect the number of packages, delivery types, the volume of waste and the frequency of collections. The analysis must take the peak season into account.

5. The company uses refrigerated or food-grade packaging

Fish, fresh produce, catering and the food service industry require packaging that meets both quality and environmental standards.

6. A foreign business partner enquires about the conformity of the packaging

The company should have details of the weight, material and function of the packaging before the customer requests confirmation or documentation.

Eko-Pro: based in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, serving the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and the whole of Poland

Eko-Pro is an experienced environmental consultancy firm. The company states that it has been operating on the Polish market as a family-run business since 2015, and its key areas of activity are environmental law, environmental consultancy and environmental auditing. The Eko-Pro Group is headquartered in Zielona Góra.

Although we are based in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, this does not limit our ability to serve companies in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It serves as a practical base for carrying out projects throughout Poland, including in border regions, port areas and export regions. Eko-Pro visits clients, carries out audits at company premises and analyses documentation in relation to actual processes.

For companies in Szczecin, Świnoujście, Koszalin, Kołobrzeg or Stargard, it is particularly important for the consultant to see the process first-hand: the warehouse, goods receipt, repackaging, post-import waste, export packaging, BDO and the flow of data between procurement, logistics and administration.

Eko-Pro’s nationwide experience helps local businesses to draw on best practices from a range of sectors and organisational models. In a border and port region, this perspective is particularly valuable, as environmental obligations often involve a combination of national and EU regulations, contractors’ documentation and the requirements of various markets.

Businesses in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship can make use of services such as PPWR audit, environmental audit, comprehensive environmental consultancy and environmental outsourcing.

Environmental audit in Szczecin: how to assess packaging in a port, trading and export company?

An environmental audit in Szczecin should be a practical review of the packaging cycle. It is not just a matter of checking whether the company has the necessary documentation. It is about verifying whether the documentation corresponds to what actually happens during import, unloading, storage, repackaging, export, seasonal sales and the disposal of waste.

Eko-Pro points out that an environmental audit makes it possible to objectively assess whether a company’s operations comply with current environmental legislation.

What should a pre-PPWR audit cover?

Here are some companies in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship worth checking out:

• import packaging,
• export packaging,
• transport and pallet packaging,
• packaging used for repackaging,
• returnable packaging,
• refrigerated and food packaging,
• packaging for components and technical materials,
• seasonal packaging,
• waste resulting from imports,
• data on weights and materials,
• documents from suppliers,
• BDO, KPO and waste records,
• procedures for updating data following a change in packaging,
• responsibility for purchasing, warehousing, logistics, sales and administration.

The audit should show where transport ends and environmental responsibility begins.

The audit should take into account both the documents and the physical goods

There are a lot of documents in the port area: invoices, consignment notes, delivery notes, specifications, labels and data from business partners. These are important, but they are not enough. They need to be cross-checked against the physical flow of packages.

If goods are repackaged but this is not reflected in the documentation, the company has a loophole.

The audit should therefore cover the office, the warehouse, the goods-in area, the repackaging area, the waste area and the persons responsible for BDO.

Outsourcing environmental protection in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship: when does ongoing support make sense?

Outsourcing environmental management in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship is particularly useful for companies operating in a dynamic environment: those that import, export, operate on a seasonal basis, use warehouses, repackage goods, work with foreign contractors, or do not have their own environmental specialist.

Eko-Pro points out that ongoing environmental support helps companies to understand legal requirements, analyse specific situations and implement practical solutions.

When is outsourcing particularly useful?

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

• is led by BDO,
• imports goods or components,
• exports products,
• repacks the goods,
• uses the port or terminals,
• sells on a seasonal basis,
• works in the catering, hospitality or seaside retail sectors,
• uses refrigerated packaging,
• serves international clients,
• does not have its own environmental protection officer,
• I need data on B2B business partners.

Outsourcing is not just about document management. With PPWR, it can serve as a permanent mechanism for monitoring changes to packaging, deliveries, sales channels and documentation.

A permanent adviser helps to keep things in order following an audit

An audit identifies gaps. Ongoing support helps ensure that these gaps do not re-emerge following a change of supplier, the summer season, a new contract, a change in the recipient’s country or the implementation of a different packaging model.

A permanent adviser can assist a company with:

• updating packaging data,
• BDO staff,
• verification of documents from suppliers,
• analysis of import and export packaging,
• in replies to questions from foreign business partners,
• preparing reports,
• organising waste records,
• implementing repackaging procedures and reporting changes.

The West Pomeranian PPWR checklist for port, commercial and seasonal businesses

Does the company recognise the packaging after import?

Find out what goods, components, raw materials, parts, foodstuffs and technical materials are delivered in.

Is export packaging different from domestic packaging?

Compare pallets, cling film, labels, crates, cardboard boxes, markings and security features for different sales channels.

Does repackaging trigger a data update?

If the warehouse changes the packaging, the environmental data should be updated.

Is the seaside season included in the analysis?

Take a look at the packaging used in the catering and hospitality sectors, the hotel industry, seasonal retail, regional produce and summer deliveries.

Can foreign business partners receive the data without delay?

A company should be aware of the weight, material, function and source of the data relating to packaging.

Does the BDO reflect the actual flow of waste?

Compare the records with the warehouse, goods received, repackaging, cold store, production and waste area.

Frequently asked questions

Does the PPWR apply to companies in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship?

Yes, if a company markets products in packaging, imports goods, exports products, repackages goods, uses transport packaging, generates packaging waste or operates a packaging waste management organisation (BDO). The PPWR may apply to port, commercial, manufacturing and logistics companies, as well as seasonal businesses operating by the sea.

Can an environmental audit in Szczecin cover imports and exports?

Yes. The audit may cover imported packaging, export packaging, supplier documentation, repackaging, the warehouse, BDO, KPO, packaging waste and data required by foreign business partners.

Does Eko-Pro serve businesses in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, even though it is based in the Lubusz Voivodeship?

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

Is the PPWR relevant to companies using the port or ferries?

Yes. If a company imports, exports, tranship, repackage or dispatch goods in packaging, it should check the details of the packaging, post-delivery waste, transport packaging and environmental documentation.

When is it worth opting for environmental outsourcing?

Outsourcing is a good option if a company carries out BDO, is involved in import or export, has varying supply routes, operates on a seasonal basis, deals with foreign business partners, or does not have its own environmental specialist.

Does a consultancy firm called PPWR in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship have to have an office in Szczecin?

No. What matters more are experience, the ability to carry out audits at clients’ premises, knowledge of environmental obligations, and the ability to translate the PPWR into the actual flow of goods. Eko-Pro operates nationwide, which is why it can serve businesses in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship despite being based in Zielona Góra.

Please contact Eko-Pro

If you run a business in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and wish to check whether your import, export, transport, refrigerated and seasonal 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 recommend measures tailored to your import, export, logistics or seasonal sales model.

Eko-Pro serves clients throughout Poland. Its consultants 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 packaging in import, export and day-to-day logistics, before the PPWR issue starts to hold up documentation, sales or cooperation with business partners.