Portugal's regulation mandating recycling labels on packaging was established through Decree-Law No. 24/2024, published in 2024. This decree amends the earlier Decree-Law No. 152-D/2017, introducing new requirements for packaging and packaging waste, including the implementation of mandatory recycling labelling. The labelling obligation became effective on January 1, 2025, requiring all packaging placed on the Portuguese market from that date onward to bear clear and legible recycling symbols indicating the appropriate disposal container.
The primary goal of this regulation is to enhance waste separation and recycling rates by providing consumers with straightforward guidance on how to dispose of packaging materials properly. The labels correspond to specific recycling containers, and the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Directorate-General for Economic Activities (DGAE) are responsible for publishing detailed guidelines on the labelling requirements.
It's important to note that packaging introduced to the Portuguese market before December 31, 2024, is exempt from this labelling requirement, even if sold after the regulation's effective date .
This initiative aligns with Portugal's broader efforts to promote environmental sustainability and comply with European Union directives on packaging waste management.
Spain's regulation mandating recycling labels on packaging was established through Royal Decree 1055/2022, published on December 27, 2022. This decree introduced new requirements for packaging and packaging waste, including the implementation of mandatory recycling labelling. The labelling obligation became effective on January 1, 2025, requiring all household packaging placed on the Spanish market from that date onward to bear clear and legible recycling symbols indicating the appropriate disposal container .
The primary goal of this regulation is to enhance waste separation and recycling rates by providing consumers with straightforward guidance on how to dispose of packaging materials properly. The labels correspond to specific recycling containers:
Yellow bin: Plastic, metal, and composite packaging
Blue bin: Paper and cardboard packaging
Green bin: Glass packaging
Brown bin: Compostable packaging
It's important to note that packaging introduced to the Spanish market before December 31, 2024, is exempt from this labeling requirement, even if sold after the regulation's effective date.
This initiative aligns with Spain's broader efforts to promote environmental sustainability and comply with European Union directives on packaging waste management.
In Portugal, the legislation states that the recycling logos can either be printed on the product packaging (or product directly) or displayed digitally behind our iQRcode.
The minimum display size is 7mm wide for print and 50px wide for digital.
In Spain, the legislation states that the recycling logos must be printed on the product packaging (or product directly).
2 sizes (standard and small/compact) are available to download from our site. The recommended minimum size for the small logo is 8mm, and for the standard logo is 10mm.
Yes!
We are running some beta testing on our bespoke tile tool at the moment, please contact your account manager or hit the contact form to be added to the waiting list.
Yes!
We are running some beta testing on our app colour change tool at the moment, please contact your account manager or hit the contact form to be added to the waiting list.
We can't, but our partners at Expandly can.
Please read their FAQ brochure which includes their contact details. Please mention that you came from Buyerdock.
If you have a lot of barcode numbers registered with GS1 and want to upload to Buyerdock in bulk, this little guide will help you. Please note, you need to have an account with Buyerdock with your brand and company profile created before we can help with the upload. And for reference, the upload will take minutes :)
Firstly, log in to your GS1 account. This will take you to the your Account dashboard.
First up, you need to get to your Numberbank
Then select GTIN-13 under Number type, like below
Next up, choose your Company prefix, simply click on the number showing.
Once both sides are selected, click on the orange button, 'Go to My Numberbank'
The next screen will show a list of your GTIN-13 numbers
Click on the button, 'Download GTIN-14s' - although we started by looking for GTIN13's, the new standard of 2D barcode will use 14 digit barcode numbers. This in simple terms adds a 0 to the front of your barcode numbers. Don't worry about that for now.
Once GS1 sends you a download link via email, click it, you'll have all your GTINs in a spreadsheet. Next up, we require you to do a tiny bit of work to make them easy to upload to Buyerdock.
When you open your spreadsheet, it will look like this (but populated)
Change the following headers in line 4 (in this example)
Number -> Barcode
Product Name -> Product Title
Description - > Product Description
Main Brand - > Brand (Please enter the brand name on the columns below exactly as it appears on Buyerdock)
Product Link -> Alternative URL
SKU -> SKU
NB: We don't use the other fields on the GS1 spreadsheet for our basic upload.
Then save the spreadsheet. Next steps, please contact us by email here, sending your spreadsheet and we'll get back to you asap. We will need to contact you to assign the categories of each product (if different, this could take a few minutes to go through) and ensure the fields are correct before uploading.
Product traceability is the process of identifying and tracking products through a supply chain.
Offer your consumers a top-level overview of where the components and processes are performed and sourced for a product. Traceability is not required on products and anything not populated will be hidden on the web-app.
This will be a requirement for the upcoming EU digital product passport.
Product attributes are the properties that describe product unique features and provide shoppers with information they can use to find, compare, and, ultimately, make a purchasing decision. We use custom product attributes for a product that isn't catered within the default Buyerdock fields and you may wish to set your own.
Attributes vary and can apply to a products and it's own child products, there are several common attributes you’ll see regularly. Here are a few examples:
Applying to multiple products. Lets say you are selling belts and you have these in three different lengths and three different hole counts for fastening each belt. On a product you would set up attributes:
Then on your product set the product values:
If you added child products to your you already created product it would adopt the same attribute names and you could edit the attributes to suit each product variation.
Please read 'Parent and child product' FAQ for more information
Parent and child product functions provides a solution for when several products have under the same product images and information, but each has slightly different attributes (specifications).
Child products will be tied to a parent product. At any point you can promote a child product to a standalone product so you can edit any of the product data. Learn more about promoting a child product reading the 'Promoting a child product to a single product' FAQ
A child product will inherit ALL parent data apart from the following fields applied:
Title Suffix: Adjusts the parent product to be understood by the buyer. For example if you had 'Brown leather shoes' as a product. A child title suffix could change the title to 'Brown leather shoes - Size 6'. Another child added to the parent could have the title suffix: 'Brown leather shoes - Size 7' and so on.
GTIN: If a GS1 Gtin is added then an iQRcode is created ready for scanning by users or at the till.
SKU: Your internal product management code - required
Attributes: Child products inherit any attribute fields from it's parent product. Each child product can be given. Learn more about Attributes reading the 'Product attributes' FAQ
We recommend a size of 3mb.
In Italy, the legislation states that the recycling logos can either be printed on the product packaging (or product directly) or displayed digitally behind our iQRcode.
The minimum font size to be displayed is 1.2mm
You can read more here
If your product is one of the categories below, you need to add an additional triman logo to the product. Most companies use a swing tag to display the product related logo, attached to the product. This is in additional to the packaging logo. Don’t forget, if you are using a swing tag, make sure you include this on the on-pack triman logo.
Textiles, clothing, shoes, DIY, garden, toys or electrical
When your product is a collection of products, for example a gift hamper, please add multiple products to cover all categories.
For a guide on how to display Triman logos, please click here
The obligation to inform the consumer about the environmental qualities and characteristics is imposed on the producers of the products covered by the article 13 of AGEC Law and codified in article R 541-221 of the environment code, according to their turnover and the number of sales units of these products that they have placed on the national market.
The Decree n° 2022-748 of April 29th adopted in application of article 13 regulates consumer information by specifying for each product concerned the nature of the information that should be provided the mention that should appear on the product if necessary.
Where to display?
Due to the complexity of the text, you can display this information on the product page on your website. Once you have answered all the questions below, you can embed the information on your website, simply follow this link buyerdock.com/licences/ and click on Widgets & API’s
WHEN DO THE REQUIREMENTS APPLY?
The legislative Decree No.116 of 3 September 2020 is a law that was passed in Italy in September 2020. The law includes several provisions that are intended to promote the transition to a circular economy in the country.
First, manufacturers of packaging must mark the material of the packaging as an alphanumeric code according to 97/129/EC. Secondly, packaging for end consumers must show clear instructions on how to dispose of a package - in Italian.
According to the recommendation of the Italian Consortium for Packaging Materials (CONAI), a packaging label should contain the following information:
This is law on all products sold in Italy from 1st January 2023.
You can ensure your product meets Italian regulations by completing the questions below.
In Italy, the legislation states that the recycling logos can either be printed on the product packaging (or product directly) or displayed digitally behind our iQRcode.
The minimum font size to be displayed is 1.2mm
In the case of incorrect or missing labelling, fines of €5,200 – €40,000 can be imposed.
PLEASE NOTE
As a producer you may also be required to register and pay EPR fees based on the amount of product placed in that market. Buyerdock do not provide this service as it needs to be carried out by the company placing the product on the market. For example, in France, if you have packaging, you need to register with Citeo, Leko or Adelphe and update the units shipped to France, if you have batteries in that product, you need to register also with Corepile or Screlec.
Buyerdock only provide the recycle logos - not the declarations of waste to governments.
Disclaimer: This information provides an overview for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. The authors, Buyerdock Limited disclaim all responsibility for any and all losses, damages, or causes of action that may arise or be connected with the use of or reliance on these materials. Please consult a licensed attorney in your area for legal assistance.
This depends on your product type.
Characteristics for disclosure include attributes such as presence and amount of recycled content, recyclability, presence of hazardous substances, and traceability (amongst many others).
Why should I disclose?
✓ Increased attractiveness to buyers (through reduced administrative burden)
✓ Increased opportunity for growth on the French market
✓ Transparency on product environmental attributes to potential customers
✓ Risk of product not being stocked
✓ Fines including €15k per sku and 10% of global turnover
Yes - but you could be better protected.
While our servers are protected by the highest levels of security, we strongly recommend you turn on 2FA (Two-factor-authentication) on your account. This will protect anyone trying to log in with just your email address and your password. We've built this as an option for now, but it will be compulsory soon.
You can find out more and turn it on here
You can download all your data via the product dashboard
Simply click on the export products button.
Then delete your account and products, feel free to email us if you need support on this.
IMPORTANT
If you have 2D barcodes (QR codes) printed on products, you should simply unsubscribe and ensure that each product is linking to a URL of your choice, this will keep the QR code functioning.
