The EU’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules impose specific environmental obligations on companies that place packaging on the EU and domestic markets, including Denmark. These rules are designed to reduce the consumption and disposal of packaging materials and to shift the financial and operational responsibility for waste management to the companies that introduce packaging onto the market.
Under the Danish EPR scheme, companies covered by the regulation (which came into force on 1 October 2025) must register as producers with the Danish authorities and pay a fee for all packaging made available in Denmark. The fee is intended to cover the costs of collection, sorting and recycling. The rules also introduce registration, payment and reporting obligations, which can create a significant administrative burden for many businesses.
A company is considered a producer for EPR purposes if it is the first entity to make empty packaging, filled packaging or single-use plastics available on the Danish market. As a result, both Danish and foreign companies selling products or packaging to Danish consumers—whether B2B or B2C—may fall within the scope of the regulation.
Companies selling directly to private consumers in Denmark are always considered producers and must register with the Danish authorities, among other obligations. For foreign companies selling to Danish businesses, the obligation to register depend on how the Danish company handles the shipment.
Because producer status is determined by the entity that first places packaging on the Danish market, companies should carefully review their supply chains and distribution models to assess whether they fall within the scope of the EPR regulation. Ensuring compliance with EPR is not only a legal obligation; it also contributes to the EU’s broader objectives of reducing waste, improving recycling rates and encouraging more sustainable product design and consumption.
Charlotte Sørensen
BDO in Denmark
Under the Danish EPR scheme, companies covered by the regulation (which came into force on 1 October 2025) must register as producers with the Danish authorities and pay a fee for all packaging made available in Denmark. The fee is intended to cover the costs of collection, sorting and recycling. The rules also introduce registration, payment and reporting obligations, which can create a significant administrative burden for many businesses.
A company is considered a producer for EPR purposes if it is the first entity to make empty packaging, filled packaging or single-use plastics available on the Danish market. As a result, both Danish and foreign companies selling products or packaging to Danish consumers—whether B2B or B2C—may fall within the scope of the regulation.
Companies selling directly to private consumers in Denmark are always considered producers and must register with the Danish authorities, among other obligations. For foreign companies selling to Danish businesses, the obligation to register depend on how the Danish company handles the shipment.
BDO Perspective
Because producer status is determined by the entity that first places packaging on the Danish market, companies should carefully review their supply chains and distribution models to assess whether they fall within the scope of the EPR regulation. Ensuring compliance with EPR is not only a legal obligation; it also contributes to the EU’s broader objectives of reducing waste, improving recycling rates and encouraging more sustainable product design and consumption.Charlotte Sørensen
BDO in Denmark