EU Packaging Regulations: Why this is a serious issue for artisan crafts and Etsy Sellers.

Why the EU packaging regulations matter to you

If you’re here, you’ve probably heard about the EU packaging regulations for Etsy sellers and thought, “You’ve got to be kidding me. Not again.” Yes. Here we go again. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, or PPWR, which comes into force on 12th August 2026.

This post is being significantly updated on 19th August, as some of the possible solutions suggested in the first version are not viable. I will add new blog posts on the topic in future as I continue to research, but for now, I am simply removing my ‘helpfull’ (or not, as it turned out) tips to manage the situation, as there were complications with these.

After GPSR, and the introduction of duties on sales under €150, the last thing we needed was more red tape. Especially when it feels like the EU is treating a one-person, part time, Etsy seller the same as a huge factory in China. It’s exhausting. It’s unfair. And yes, it sucks.

What the new EEPR rules actually say.

Who the rules cover

Not everyone is affected by these rules. Most of my readers sell digital download patterns, such as knitting, crochet, sewing, woodworking, etc. If all your goods are digital downloads, and you send nothing by post, you are not affected by the EU packaging regulations. Here’s how to know if you are:
✅ You’re not covered if:
You only sell digital products (e.g., patterns, printables) with no physical shipping.
❌ You are covered if:
You ship any physical products (even occasionally, as a hobbyist, or as part of a service).
You send physical freebies (e.g., thank-you cards, samples) to customers.
You sell secondhand items (e.g., on Vinted, eBay) and use packaging to ship them.
Bottom line: If it’s physical and packaged, the rules apply to you.

What Packaging is Actually Affected?

The new rules apply to anything that counts as packaging. If it’s used to contain, protect, or present your product, its part of the PPWR, the EU packaging regulations for Etsy sellers. That includes:

What’s not affected?

Your product itself (e.g., the actual leather wallet or ceramic mug which your etsy listing was for). The rules are about the packaging, not what’s inside.

What Kind of Packaging Is Allowed?

The PPWR EU packaging regulations for Etsy sellers is about making packaging smarter and kinder to the planet. That’s the positive side of it, and most of us agree that’s what we should be doing. (The problems lie in its application)

Materials Allowed:

Materials to Avoid:

Empty Space Rule:

Your packaging can’t be more than 40% empty space. So, if you’re shipping a tiny pair of earrings, don’t use a shoebox—right-size it to save costs and comply. In most EU countries there is a delay on the application of this part of the regulation. For those trying to comply, its good to set this as a target from now it possible, so you dont have to change your packaging again next year.

Why this is serious for Etsy Sellers and Artisan Crafts

To comply with this legislation, any seller needs to use environmentally sustainable packaging (good, I have no problem with that). But to prove this, they must also register, individually, with every single EU country they plan to sell to. Each country has a fee. So that’s 27 seperate registrations. Many countries registration process isn’t availible in English. In short, it is an impossibility for a tiny buisness selling handmade artisan goods on Etsy or Shopify to comply. Leaving them no choice but to stop selling into the EU.

Why this is a disaster. For the environment, and for Heritage Crafts.

This legislation, like much other EU legislation such as GPSR, is based on the behaviour, needs and capacity of big buisness. It is not considering the micro seller. And yet, it is not exemption the micro seller, either. In doing so, it pushes the small artisan crafter out of the market place, making it impossible for them to trade.

Heritage Crafts, the crafts that reflect our culture, our history, our communities, are endangered by this type of legislation.

Final Thoughts: Why This Matters (And Why I’m Furious)

But the planet is burning!

Climate change is terrifying, and it’s happening now. I watched this reel last night, couldnt sleep as a result, so sat up half tge night fact checking every point. Then I really couldn’t sleep. We’ve got maybe 11 years before catastrophic climate change becomes irreversible. I deeply believe something needs done. But that something should not push small sellers out of existance!