Sustainability is no longer a trend but a regulatory requirement at all levels of the supply chain. One of the most relevant examples is the recent application of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime to all packaging, including commercial and industrial packaging, under Royal Decree 1055/2022, which adapts Spanish regulations to European environmental objectives.
Although in the past the focus was exclusively on household packaging, the new legislation structurally transforms the way companies manufacture, supply, use, and manage packaging. At Gestión de Compras, with years of experience in the development and supply of industrial packaging solutions, we analyze in depth what this transition entails and how to adapt successfully.
🧭 A regulatory change that transforms the concept of responsibility
Extended Producer Responsibility redefines the role of companies in the product value chain. The producer is no longer solely responsible for the manufacture or marketing of the product, but also for the waste generated by its packaging after use. This obligation involves assuming the costs of collection, recycling, treatment, and recovery of the packaging waste placed on the market.
In the case of industrial packaging, this logic has particularly complex implications, as we are talking about packaging designed to withstand extreme conditions, transport heavy components, or protect high-value goods. The obligation to ensure that this packaging is managed correctly after use opens up a new front of technical, legal, and logistical requirements.
🏭 Who is affected?
The new legal framework does not distinguish between large and small companies, but rather by the fact of introducing packaging onto the national market. This includes not only product manufacturers, but also importers, distributors, logistics providers, and companies that design or handle custom packaging.
For many industrial companies that traditionally operated outside the scope of this type of regulation, this represents a new burden in terms of document management, tax, and operations. Registering with the Register of Producers, declaring the materials used, and taking responsibility for waste management are now unavoidable tasks.
In our experience in Purchasing Management, we have seen how many companies initially underestimated the scope of this regulation, especially in sectors such as automotive, chemicals, industrial machinery, and technical appliances. The reality is that any company that uses secondary or tertiary packaging is potentially subject to these obligations.
⚙️ Implications for packaging design and supply
One of the biggest challenges we have observed is the need to redesign packaging and optimize materials. Many traditional solutions, such as multilayer plastic films, non-recyclable composites, or mixed packaging (plastic-metal), are now becoming environmental liabilities that complicate legal compliance and increase costs.
For this reason, leading companies are already making strategic decisions such as:
- Replacing non-recyclable packaging with single-material solutions
- Adopting reusable or returnable systems, such as stackable boxes or standard containers
- Redesigning structures to minimize volume and weight, which also reduces transportation costs and carbon footprint
- Implementing traceable labeling to ensure that the waste stream is verifiable
At Gestión de Compras, we have already collaborated with clients who needed to completely redesign their packaging for metal components, batteries, motors, or electronic parts, prioritizing returnable solutions with foldable metal structures and interior protection made of recycled plastic or reusable technical foam.
📉 RAP costs and financing models
One of the recurring questions from our customers is the economic impact of RAP compliance. In general, the cost associated with waste treatment must be borne by the producer, either through a Collective System (SCRAP) or an Individual System (SIRAP).
The choice between one or the other depends on the type of packaging, the volume managed, and the company’s internal control capacity. Some industrial sectors are opting to create sectoral SCRAPs that allow for the sharing of management, auditing, and certification costs.
However, the most important thing is to have a clear strategy: the design of the packaging directly affects its subsequent treatment and, therefore, the total cost of its recycling or reuse. In this context, eco-design becomes a lever not only for the environment, but also for the bottom line.
🧠 How can Gestión de Compras help?
For more than a decade, at Gestión de Compras we have been developing industrial packaging projects worldwide, working with sectors such as automotive, energy, machinery, HVAC, electronics, and technical consumer goods.
Our value proposition includes:
- Technical design of custom packaging, with structural simulations and stacking studies
- Supply of recyclable, returnable, or biodegradable solutions, with RAP certifications
- Documentary and technical support to comply with regulations and end customer requirements
We not only provide products, but also technical knowledge on how to integrate environmental compliance into logistics and industrial packaging strategies.
🧩 Conclusion: from compliance to competitive advantage
The new Extended Producer Responsibility framework may seem like an additional burden for many industrial companies, but it also represents a clear opportunity for competitive improvement. Those who manage to adapt their packaging to this model will not only avoid penalties or added costs, but will also be able to demonstrate environmental commitment, gain efficiency in their logistics chain, and better respond to increasingly stringent customer requirements.
The change has already begun. Is your company ready?
👉 At Gestión de Compras, we help you redesign your industrial packaging to comply with EPR without compromising functionality or profitability.
