When shipping a package becomes an export issue

The EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces new packaging requirements that may represent a surprisingly significant cost for a small design business or independent artist. New obligations related to international sales, online shops and shipping products have raised questions among our members, and we have received numerous enquiries on the subject.

The issue is a hot potato for small businesses seeking to internationalise. The position of small businesses has been debated for several weeks, not only on social media but also in political circles. Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala has already called for fairer practices and demanded changes to the regulation. The problem has been recognised. So what happens next?

When regulation meets creative work

For a designer, packaging is more than just packaging. It can be part of the product experience, brand and value – and is often an essential part of selling a work or product.

When sales take place online and customers can be anywhere in the EU, even a small order can generate new administrative work and costs. This raises a broader question: how much time and money can be spent on new obligations? Time and money should be available for creating products, artworks and brands – not for an unreasonable increase in workload and costs.

Regulation should not make small-scale international trade unreasonably complicated or expensive.

Internationalisation should be possible

The growth opportunities for Finnish design and art increasingly lie in international markets. Online commerce has opened up opportunities for numerous Finnish brands and artists that were previously dominated by large companies. One person can design a product, sell it online and ship it to a customer on the other side of Europe.

There are still many questions about the practical implications of the PPWR, and national practices are continuing to develop. It is now important to make visible the situations in which regulation meets the everyday reality of designers, artists and small businesses.

The better we understand our members’ everyday realities, the better we can advocate for fair and reasonable practices for small businesses.

Help us make an impact – share your experiences

We are now collecting practical examples and questions from our members. Based on these, we will identify the situations that matter most to our members and take them to the relevant Finnish authorities. We will seek clear, practical answers and highlight situations where guidance or the application of the regulation needs clarification. We will keep members informed as EU and Finnish authorities develop their guidance and interpretations.

Share your experience of the PPWR and take our short survey.

Ornamo is also providing feedback on the European Commission’s currently open draft implementing regulation concerning national producer registers under the PPWR. The experiences and practical examples shared by our members are an important part of this advocacy work as well.

We will particularly highlight that registration, reporting, representative and other costs in different countries must not become a barrier to selling products, participating in exhibitions or growing within the EU internal market.

Tell us about your experiences and questions. The better we understand our members’ everyday realities, the better we can advocate for fair and reasonable practices for small businesses.

‼️The link to the survey was sent to members in the membership newsletter 15/2026 on September 3.