Germany EPR (VerpackG) Guide for Shopify Sellers
Last updated: 12 July 2026
What is VerpackG and LUCID?
The Verpackungsgesetz (VerpackG) is Germany's packaging act. It generally requires anyone who places packaged goods on the German market to register their packaging with LUCID (ZSVR) — the Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister's LUCID Packaging Register — and to report packaging data.
Who is generally obligated
If your Shopify store ships packaged goods to consumers in Germany — including as a foreign, non-German distance seller — you are generally in scope for VerpackG. Whether a specific product or packaging type is affected can depend on your situation, so confirm against the official source below before relying on this guide.
The two-step reality: registration and dual system
VerpackG obligations are generally met in two steps, not one:
- LUCID registration. You register as a producer in the LUCID register and receive a LUCID number.
- Dual system participation. For system-relevant (typically sales/transport) packaging, you separately license volumes with a dual system ("Systembetreiber") and report that participation in LUCID. Registration alone does not cover this step.
What a LUCID data report contains
A LUCID producer data report breaks packaging weight down by official material type. The material categories a report can cover are:
- Glass
- Paper, paperboard, carton
- Ferrous metals (steel, tinplate)
- Aluminium
- Plastics
- Beverage cartons
- Other composite packaging
- Other materials (wood, cork, ceramic…)
How Tarra helps
Tarra reads your Germany-shipped Shopify orders and your packaging profiles, and totals the weight per official LUCID material type shown above. It then generates a LUCID-ready XML data report and an audit evidence CSV. Tarra is a data-preparation and report-generation tool only: it does not register you in LUCID, does not license volumes with a dual system, and does not submit anything to any authority. You review the totals, approve the report, and upload it to LUCID yourself.
FAQ
Do I need to register in LUCID if I only sell online from outside Germany?
Generally, yes — distance sellers shipping packaged goods to German consumers are typically in scope for VerpackG regardless of where the seller is established. Confirm your specific situation against the official source below.
What's the difference between LUCID registration and a dual system?
LUCID registration lists you as a producer. Participating in a dual system is a separate step where you license your system-relevant packaging volumes with a Systembetreiber, and that participation is then reported in LUCID. Most obligated sellers need both.
Does Tarra register me in LUCID or submit my report for me?
No. Tarra prepares your totals and generates the report file. You review it, approve it, and upload it to LUCID yourself.
Is there a minimum order volume before VerpackG applies?
Unlike some other countries, VerpackG does not appear to set a general weight-based exemption threshold — check the official source below to confirm how it applies to your specific volumes.
What materials does the report cover?
The official LUCID material types listed above, under "What a LUCID data report contains."
Official sources
- Registration / declaration portal (LUCID (ZSVR)): https://lucid.verpackungsregister.org/
- Primary official source: https://www.verpackungsregister.org/
- You'll be asked for your LUCID number when you register.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and requirements can change — always confirm current rules with the official source linked below. Tarra prepares your packaging data and generates the report file; you review, approve, and file it yourself. Tarra never submits anything to an authority on your behalf.