Consumer and Business Packaging  

 

Consumer and business packaging are subject to different recycling fees, as their waste management involves different obligations and costs. For this reason, it is important to distinguish between them also in reporting.  
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Consumer Packaging  

Consumer packaging refers to packaging that is intended for or suitable for consumer use. Such packaging is reported under consumer packaging.

Examples of consumer packaging include sales packaging of consumer products and certain grouped packaging. Packaging used at the point of sale for packing products is also classified as consumer packaging.

 

Examples of consumer packaging:  

  • Sales packaging of consumer products, such as milk cartons, yoghurt cups and chocolate bar wrappers
  • Take-away cups, plastic bags and other packaging used at the point of sale that the consumer takes with them
  • Food packaging that may be sold both to households and to restaurants and service sector businesses

Packaging sold to businesses but ultimately ending up with consumers or households is also reported as consumer packaging.  

Business Packaging  

Business packaging refers to packaging that ends up with a company together with the products. Such packaging is reported under business packaging.

Examples of business packaging include sales, grouped, and transport packaging intended for businesses.

In addition, grouped and transport packaging of consumer products that do not end up with the consumer are classified as business packaging.

Examples of business packaging:  

  • Pallets and stretch film used for transporting consumer products
  • Cardboard boxes containing multiple products intended for sale
  • Wholesale packaging intended primarily for businesses, such as wholesale confectionery packs or ten-kilogram sacks of rice

 

 

 
Consumer and Business Packaging

How do I distinguish between consumer and business packaging?  

 

  • If the packaging is certain to end only with businesses or is primarily intended for businesses (such as large packs intended for professional use), it must be reported as business packaging.
  • If there is a possibility that the packaging may end up with a consumer, it must generally be reported as consumer packaging. This applies in situations where it cannot be demonstrated that the packaging goes exclusively to businesses.

 

If you are unsure whether a product should be reported as consumer or business packaging, please contact Sumi’s customer service.