Packaging licence/weight calculator
A packaging licence/weight calculator such as the Lizenzero Calculation Wizard can be used to work out the exact weights of packaging volumes used and the costs for their licensing with just a few clicks of the mouse. The German Packaging Act assigns responsibility for the disposal of sales packaging placed on the market to the ‘first distributor’ of this packaging. These first distributors pay a licence fee based on the packaging volume and materials to a dual system of their choice, which in turn takes care of the professional collection, sorting and recycling of the packaging.
If the company licensing the packaging already has details of the individual total weights of the packaging, it can enter these values directly into the packaging weight calculators that some dual systems provide in their online shops for packaging licensing as a convenient way of comparing prices. It should be noted, however, that the licence fee itself is not the only relevant factor: the service offered by the individual dual systems plus applicable terms and conditions (notice of termination periods, price changes, volume reporting options, etc.) are also important.
How packaging licence/weight calculators work
Choose your packaging type:
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Resources saved:
Resources saved
(Source: Fraunhofer UMSICHT)Here you can see how many kilograms of primary raw materials you save with your packaging licensing and its associated recycling. To clearly illustrate the volume saved, we also use a diagram containing the corresponding number of apples.
The calculated values are based on an annual study from the prestigious Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT).
We state the volume of primary raw materials saved and greenhouse gas emissions reduced by your company’s partnership with Interseroh on your personal resource protection certificate.
- 0 kg
- ≈ 0
Box S
Box S
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 25,0 x 17,5 x 10,0 cm
Weight: Paper/paperboard/cardboard 65 g
Example: DHL Package S
Box S
incl. packing tape
Box S - incl. packing tape
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 25,0 x 17,5 x 10,0 cm
Weight: Paper/paperboard/cardboard 65 g, plastic 2 g
Example: DHL Package S wrapped with PVC packing tape
Box S
incl. packing tape and paper filling material
Box S - incl. packing tape and paper filling material
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 25,0 x 17,5 x 10,0 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 70 g, plastic 2 g
Example: DHL Package S wrapped with PVC packing tape + Kraft paper or wood wool
Box S
incl. packing tape and synthetic filling material
Box S - incl. packing tape and synthetic filling material
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 25,0 x 17,5 x 10,0 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 65 g, plastic 12 g
Example: DHL Package S wrapped with PVC packing tape + bubble wrap with small bubbles
Air Cushion Envelope S
made of paper
Air bubble envelope S - made from paper
Our reference envelope has the following specification:
Dimensions: 180 x 265 mm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 15 g, plastic 2 g
Example: Padded paper envelope, DIN B5 format, lined inside with bubble wrap, size D4
Box M
Box M
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 37,5 x 30,0 x 13,5 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 275g
Example: DHL Package M
Box M
incl. packing tape
Box M - incl. packing tape
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 37,5 x 30,0 x 13,5 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 4 g
Example: DHL Package S wrapped with PVC packing tape
Box M
incl. packing tape and paper filling material
Box M - incl. packing tape and paper filling material
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 37,5 x 30,0 x 13,5 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 300 g, plastic 4 g
Example: DHL Package M wrapped with PVC packing tape + kraft paper or wood wool
Box M
incl. packing tape and synthetic filling material
Box M - incl. packing tape and synthetic filling material
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 37,5 x 30,0 x 13,5 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/card 275 g, plastic 24 g
Example: DHL Package M wrapped with PVC packing tape+ bubble wrap with small bubbles
Air bubble envelope M
made of paper
Air bubble envelope M - made from paper
Our reference envelope has the following specification:
Dimensions: 220 x 340 mm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 22 g, plastic 3 g
Example: Padded paper envelope, DIN A4 format, lined inside with bubble wrap, size F6
Box L
Box L
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 45,0 x 35,0 x 20,0 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 400 g
Example: DHL Package L
Box L
incl. packing tape
Container L - incl. packing tape
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 45,0 x 35,0 x 20,0 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 400 g, plastic 6 g
Example: DHL Package L wrapped with PVC packing tape
Box L
incl. packing tape and paper filling material
Box L - incl. packing tape and paper filling material
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 45,0 x 35,0 x 20,0 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 500 g, plastic 6 g
Example: DHL Package L wrapped with PVC packing tape + bubble wrap with small bubbles
Box L
incl. packing tape and synthetic filling material
Box L - incl. packing tape and synthetic filling material
Our reference box has the following specification:
Dimensions: 45,0 x 35,0 x 20,0 cm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 400 g, plastic 36 g
Example: DHL Package L wrapped with PVC packing tape + bubble wrap with small bubbles
Air Cushion Envelope L
made of paper
Air bubble envelope L - made from paper
Our reference envelope has the following specification:
Dimensions: 300 x 445 mm
Weight: paper/paperboard/cardboard 40 g, plastic 5 g
Example: Padded paper envelope, DIN A3 format, size I9
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Resources saved:
Resources saved
(Source: Fraunhofer UMSICHT)Here you can see how many kilograms of primary raw materials you save with your packaging licensing and its associated recycling. To clearly illustrate the volume saved, we also use a diagram containing the corresponding number of apples.
The calculated values are based on an annual study from the prestigious Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT).
We state the volume of primary raw materials saved and greenhouse gas emissions reduced by your company’s partnership with Interseroh on your personal resource protection certificate.
- 0 kg
- ≈ 0
Shipping envelope S
without filling material
Shipping envelope S - without filling material
Our reference shipping envelope has the following specification:
Dimensions: 165 x 220 mm
Weight: plastic 10 g
Example: Plastic shipping bag for textile and courier shipping
Packaging cup S
Packaging cup S
Our reference packaging cup has the following specification:
Dimensions: Ø 15,5 cm x 6,8 cm (Capacity 500 ml)
Weight: plastic 19,4 g
Example: Salad bowls with hinged lid. Made of PET
Film S
Film S
Our reference film has the following specification:
Dimensions: 30 x 100 cm
Weight: Plastic 22 g
Example: Blown film or bubble wrap with large bubbles
Shipping envelope M
without filling material
Shipping envelope M - without filling material
Our reference shipping envelope has the following specification:
Dimensions: 245 x 320 mm
Weight: plastic 12 g
Example: Plastic shipping bag for textile and courier shipping
Packaging cup M
Packaging cup M
Our reference packaging cup has the following specification:
Dimensions: Ø 17,6 cm x 7,5 cm (Capacity 750 ml)
Weight: plastic 24,6 g
Example: Salad bowls with hinged lid. Made of PET
Film M
Film M
Our reference film has the following specification:
Dimensions: 60 x 200 cm
Weight: Plastic 45 g
Example: Blown film or bubble wrap with large bubbles
Shipping envelope L
without filling material
Shipping envelope L - without filling material
Our reference shipping envelope has the following specification:
Dimensions: 400 x 500 mm
Weight: plastic 15 g
Example: Plastic shipping bag for textile and courier shipping
Packaging cup L
Packaging cup L
Our reference packaging cup has the following specification:
Dimensions: Ø 18,9 cm x 8 cm (Capacity 1000 ml)
Weight: plastic 27,1 g
Example: Salad bowl with hinged lid. Made of PET
Film L
Film L
Our reference film has the following specification:
Dimensions: 120 x 200 cm
Weight: Plastic 90 g
Example: Blown film or bubble wrap with large bubbles
-
Resources saved:
Resources saved
(Source: Fraunhofer UMSICHT)Here you can see how many kilograms of primary raw materials you save with your packaging licensing and its associated recycling. To clearly illustrate the volume saved, we also use a diagram containing the corresponding number of apples.
The calculated values are based on an annual study from the prestigious Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT).
We state the volume of primary raw materials saved and greenhouse gas emissions reduced by your company’s partnership with Interseroh on your personal resource protection certificate.
- 0 kg
- ≈ 0
Bottle / jar S
with lid (plastic)
Bottle / jar S with lid – plastic
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 250 ml
Weight: glass 150 g, plastic 1 g
Example: Bottle with plastic lid
Bottle / jar S
with lid (aluminium)
Bottle / jar S with lid (aluminium)
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 250 ml
Weight: gass 150 g, aluminium 1 g
Example: Bottle with aluminium lid / cork stopper
Bottle / jar S
with lid (cork)
Bottle / jar S with lid (cork)
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 250 ml
Weight: glass 150 g, Other materials 1 g
Example: Bottle with cork stopper
Bottle / jar M
with lid (plastic)
Bottle / jar M with lid – plastic
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 750 ml
Weight: glass 500 g, plastic 1 g
Example: Bottle with plastic lid
Bottle / jar M
with lid (aluminium)
Bottle / jar M with lid (aluminium)
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 750 ml
Weight: glass 500 g, aluminium 1 g
Example: Bottle with aluminium lid
Bottle / jar M
with lid (cork)
Bottle / jar M with lid (cork)
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 750 ml
Weight: glass 500 g, other materials 1 g
Example: Bottle with cork stopper
Bottle / jar L
with lid (plastic)
Bottle / jar L with lid – plastic
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 1 l
Weight: glass750 g, plastic1 g
Example: Bottle with plastic lid
Bottle / jar L
with lid (aluminium)
Bottle / jar S with lid (aluminium)
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 1 l
Weight: glass 750 g, aluminium 1 g
Example: Bottle with aluminium lid
Bottle / jar L
with lid (cork)
Bottle/jar L with lid - Kork
Our reference bottle/jar has the following specification:
Dimensions: Capacity 1 l
Weight: Glass 750 g, Other materials 1 g
Example: Bottle with cork stopper
Paper, cardboard 0,000 kg
Plastics 0,000 kg
Glass 0,000 kg
Your license package:
Your annual licence contract includes the VerpackG-compliant licensing of the entered packaging quantities, the online seal as proof of your system participation, your annual Resources SAVED certificate and a service flat rate. To ensure that you are permanently legally compliant and do not have to worry about this every year, the contract is extended at the beginning of each year. You can cancel the contract yourself in your customer account up to 3 months before the end of each year.
25,00 € plus VAT
Both the volume reporting that forms the basis for participation in a dual system and the volume reporting to the Central Agency Packaging Register are based on specifying packaging volume weights in kilograms. A packaging weight calculator like the Lizenzero Calculation Wizard quickly sheds light on the knotty problem of licensing rates and volumes. It greatly simplifies the licensing process by ensuring that the company applying for a licence does not need to specify exact kilogram figures but merely needs to know the number of packaging items used – once these are entered, the packaging weight calculator converts this number into a weight. If the company applying already has the weight details for its packaging volumes, this step can be skipped and the weights can be entered directly into the packaging licence calculator, which then calculates the corresponding licence fee.
All of the following materials must be licensed (and are also included in the licence calculator):
- Aluminium
- Glass
- Beverage cartons
- Plastics
- Other materials (such as cork, cotton, etc.)
- Composite packaging
- Ferrous metals
- Paper, paperboard and cardboard (PPC)
Companies must report volumes to both the dual system and the ZSVR before placing packaging on the market; these reports should be submitted before 1 January and are then valid for the whole year. The figures reported are audited at the start of the following year and the final volumes thereby determined are again reported to the dual system and Central Agency as the year-end volume report. If no weight figures are available for this confirmation report, the packaging weight calculator can again be used to calculate these values.
An example illustrates how the packaging licence/weight calculator provided by Lizenzero is used. The retailer or manufacturer in question first selects from a range of standard packaging types and sizes (e.g. for paper, paperboard and cardboard). If we assume that the licensee wants to place a specific volume of ‘S’ size shipping cartons on the market, including a plastic cushioning material plus packaging aids, then the packaging weight calculator will convert the specific number of units into kilograms while also splitting this total into individual figures for the various packaging materials (in this case: paper, paperboard and cardboard (PPC), and plastic). The user then clicks ‘Next’ to move on to the packaging licence calculator. Here, the user is again shown the weight figures calculated, which can be adjusted as required before moving on to the final step in the licensing process. Apart from various types of shipping carton, weights for air cushion envelopes can also be calculated in several sizes in the paper, paperboard and cardboard section.
The same applies for plastics: the packaging weight calculator uses various standard packaging types – such as tote boxes, padded envelopes or films – in various sizes as the basis for weight calculation here. Weight calculations are performed similarly for the various sizes of bottles and containers made from glass: here, the user can also select various materials for the closure or lid (such as cork, aluminium or plastic).
Thanks to the packaging weight calculator, companies that are required to participate in a system can calculate the packaging weights for each type of packaging material automatically, while the packaging licence calculator gives them a clear-cut overview of the annual licence fees they will be charged.
Who needs a ‘packaging licence’?
Whenever a ‘packaging licence’ is mentioned, this means the mandatory participation in a system – that is, the requirement for a company to participate with its sales packaging in a dual system – as set out in the German Packaging Act. In other words: packaging licensing is required by all companies that are the first to fill sales packaging with goods in order to market this to private end users in such a way that the packaging is ultimately disposed of by these users as waste. This licensing is mandatory even for small businesses and also applies to companies that sell their goods online. Licensing does not depend on packaging volumes. There is no minimum threshold and mandatory system participation applies from the very first piece of packaging.
These requirements to obtain a ‘packaging licence’ affect both retailers and producers in all cases where these companies act as ‘first distributors’. If an online retailer receives shoes from the manufacturer or a wholesaler in their original packaging, the shoebox must already be licensed by the manufacturer, since they first filled this packaging (which will ultimately be shipped out to the private end user) with goods and placed it on the market. If the online retailer packs the shoebox in a protective shipping carton and adds bubble wrap to cushion the shoebox before then shipping this to the end user after order placement, the online retailer is now the first filler and initial distributor of this mail-order packaging, and is also responsible for its licensing (including cushioning/filling material). Accordingly, both product and mail-order packaging are subtypes of the generic term ‘sales packaging’. A third subtype of sales packaging is service packaging – such as baker’s paper bags, pizza boxes or coffee-to-go cups – which is used to package the goods temporarily for handover to the end user.
The option of pre-licensing by the manufacturer is available only for service packaging. This means that affected retailers can order packaging materials that are already licensed from their packaging suppliers. Since proof that service packaging is indeed already licensed must always be provided by the last distributor of this packaging, retailers should therefore always request this proof from their packaging suppliers. It should also be noted that this option to purchase pre-licensed packaging is expressly not permitted in other contexts or for other packaging types.
Whenever a ‘packaging licence’ is mentioned, this means the mandatory participation in a system – that is, the requirement for a company to participate with its sales packaging in a dual system – as set out in the German Packaging Act. In other words: packaging licensing is required by all companies that are the first to fill sales packaging with goods in order to market this to private end users in such a way that the packaging is ultimately disposed of by these users as waste. This licensing is mandatory even for small businesses and also applies to companies that sell their goods online. Licensing does not depend on packaging volumes. There is no minimum threshold and mandatory system participation applies from the very first piece of packaging.
These requirements to obtain a ‘packaging licence’ affect both retailers and producers in all cases where these companies act as ‘first distributors’. If an online retailer receives shoes from the manufacturer or a wholesaler in their original packaging, the shoebox must already be licensed by the manufacturer, since they first filled this packaging (which will ultimately be shipped out to the private end user) with goods and placed it on the market. If the online retailer packs the shoebox in a protective shipping carton and adds bubble wrap to cushion the shoebox before then shipping this to the end user after order placement, the online retailer is now the first filler and initial distributor of this mail-order packaging, and is also responsible for its licensing (including cushioning/filling material). Accordingly, both product and mail-order packaging are subtypes of the generic term ‘sales packaging’. A third subtype of sales packaging is service packaging – such as baker’s paper bags, pizza boxes or coffee-to-go cups – which is used to package the goods temporarily for handover to the end user.
The option of pre-licensing by the manufacturer is available only for service packaging. This means that affected retailers can order packaging materials that are already licensed from their packaging suppliers. Since proof that service packaging is indeed already licensed must always be provided by the last distributor of this packaging, retailers should therefore always request this proof from their packaging suppliers. It should also be noted that this option to purchase pre-licensed packaging is expressly not permitted in other contexts or for other packaging types.
Registration with the ZSVR
Apart from participating in a dual system, companies must also report the volume of sales packaging that they expect to place on the market to the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR). A company registers with the ZSVR by providing a full set of company data, its packaging volumes and the name of its dual system. In return, the company is issued with a registration number that it must then communicate to its dual system operator, so as to link the two organisations together. As a last step, the company must submit a declaration that all details given are true.
The Central Agency Packaging Register publishes the details relating to manufacturers and brands in the LUCID database, thereby granting access to both competitors and potential customers. In addition, the data reported to the ZSVR is compared with the data reported to the dual system – and both datasets should naturally match each other in all respects.
Duties imposed by the Packaging Act apply from the first piece of packaging filled. In some cases, a Declaration of Completeness must also be submitted. Thresholds known as ‘de minimis limits’ apply in this context. If exceeded, the company must submit an exact annual report produced together with an auditor.
Failing to do so or providing incorrect details is a regulatory infringement and can lead to fines of up to EUR 200,000 as well as sales bans. Written warnings may also be issued, and these may be initiated by competitors, as a result of the transparency offered by the public-facing LUCID database.
Theoretically, the packaging licence calculator could be used to obtain a ‘packaging licence’ via Lizenzero even if a company has neither registered with the Central Agency Packaging Register nor submitted its volume reports. In this scenario, however, participation is incomplete and therefore not legally valid.
