Frequently asked questions

LUCID is Germany's public packaging register, run by the Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR). Anyone who first places packaged goods on the German market, including sellers abroad who ship to German customers, must register there.

In Germany, yes. There is no minimum quantity: the duty starts with the first packaged item you ship to a customer. Other countries differ. Some have thresholds, and some are being questioned under the new EU rules. Try the checker.

Yes, registering in LUCID is free. What costs money is the licence with a dual system for the packaging that reaches consumers, and, if you're based abroad, the authorised representative's fee.

A licensed private company that organises the collection and recycling of consumer packaging in Germany. You pay it based on the weight and material of the packaging you ship. Several systems exist; they're legally equivalent but differ in price and contract terms.

In Germany, since 12 August 2026: yes, if your business has no German branch and you sell directly to end users there. The representative takes over licensing and reporting; registering in LUCID stays your own duty. Other EU countries have similar rules under the PPWR. More about representatives.

Not on your own any more. Since 12 August 2026, a company with no establishment in Germany that sells directly to end users there must appoint an authorised representative in Germany before its packaging reaches the German market. The LUCID registration form asks you to select that representative, and you can't complete it without one. Registering stays your own duty; the representative then handles the dual-system contract and the reports. See the official ZSVR page. We help you with this step: ask us.

Registration in LUCID is a personal duty of the producer, in your own company's name. If you are the producer, a partner's number does not cover you. We'll check who the producer is in your setup.

Marketplaces must check registration for sellers shipping to Germany. If your company is based abroad, appoint an authorised representative first. Then register in LUCID, license your packaging and make sure your company data matches your seller account exactly. The marketplace guide explains it step by step.

No, and we don't pretend to be. We help you through registrations and paperwork and explain the published rules. For legal questions we recommend a qualified lawyer in the country concerned.

We're launching. We work with a small number of sellers, closely and personally, and we're filming our own registration in public. Early clients get pilot prices, and we tell you openly what we have and haven't done before.

It depends on your data, the scheme and, in Germany, the representative. We won't promise a fixed turnaround. After the first check, you get an estimate for your case.

English, Russian and Estonian. The official portals themselves are mostly in German, English or the local language. We help you through them.