This month, new regulations came into force meaning that you could feel the wrath of the law if you’re not savvy with your packaging.
Up until now, the same legislation surrounding packaging has been in place since 1999 and didn’t allow for the rise in internet shopping. Ultimately this meant companies who weren’t following the proper rules could slip through the net. However, this new document gives allowance for enforcement meaning that you need to follow the rules!
We know that legal documents don’t always make for a thrilling read, so we’ve put together the key points here for you to look through to make sure that you’re following the new packaging regulations.
Packaging Must Be Minimal
The main points of the new regulations are that packaging should be minimal and government bodies are now able to enforce these regulations, whereas some companies were able to slip through the net before.
This provides a comprehensive update to allow for the internet boom and growth in online orders, bringing them in line with everything else.
One of the easiest ways to minimise your waste, saving you money and helping protect the environment in the process, is to invest in a shrink wrap machine.
The specific guidelines say, “Packaging volume and weight must be the minimum amount to maintain the necessary levels of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer.” It also states that packaging should be manufactured to permit reuse or recovery and hazardous substances should be minimised in emissions.
Heavy Metal Limits
If you’re shipping heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, lead and hexavalent chromium, in packaging or their components, then the weight of the metals shouldn’t exceed 100 ppm.
This applies to removable packaging, such as a bottle top, and not permanent coatings or pigments. For instance, determining whether a steel drum coated in lead based paint exceeded the limit would be based on the mass of the drum and paint taken together.
When the Regulations Don’t Apply
These regulations aren’t applicable to packaging that is for exporting outside of the EU. They also don’t affect existing quality or labelling requirements, such as those to do with safety.
For more information about the new regulations, you can view the HM Government PDF document here.
If you need to look at alternative packaging solutions to make sure that you adhere to the new guidelines, investing in a shrink wrap machine will minimise your packaging. For more information about our packaging solutions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 020 8952 5262.
