Create a packaging technical file

Modified on Thu, 2 Jul at 10:29 AM

Create a packaging Technical File to organise all compliance documentation for your product packaging. This is essential for regulations such as PPWR, where packaging materials, suppliers, recycled content and other packaging data must be managed in a clear and traceable way.

Feature access
All registered ProductIP users can create a packaging Technical File.

Before you begin

Define and separate packaging types and variants.
Identify markets
Identify your role in the market (manufacturer or supplier)
Define if your packaging contains plastic
Identify if environmental claims will be displayed on the packaging.

Have this information available:

Packaging identifier
Expected market release date
Supplier contact details (listed in your address book)

Video instructions

Steps

Go to the Technical Files tab and click Create a new Technical File.
If a window pops up with a list of "pending file request", click Create other technical file in order to create a new technical file.
Enter product details:
- Article number
- Product name
- Market release date (when the packaging enters the designated market/regions)

Note: If you want to send out a Technical File request, click Create pre-draft file, otherwise click Next.

4. Provide additional details (optional):

You have the option to provide additional information for this technical file:

Workflow Add a dedicated contact to the technical file or set a division
Supplier Add your supplier with contact details and add your supplier's article number for better recognition in document requests
Customer If you are creating this technical file specifically for one customer, add their name
Factory information To track the supply chain add the factory details. Use this when you purchase products from multiple factories.

5. Select regions in which this packaging will enter the market.

6. Choose the correct Product category.

For the packaging Technical Files we have created 5 packaging categories. These can be found by typing below category in the Keywords.

Category	Description	Examples
Product Packaging – Non-Food	Packaging intended to contain, protect or present non-food consumer goods, industrial goods or general merchandise. These items are not designed for direct contact with food and do not fall under cosmetic, pharmaceutical or medical-device contact requirements.	Folding cartons for electronics; gift boxes; window boxes; paper bags; blister packs; plastic clamshells; cardboard sleeves; bottle carriers without food contact; molded pulp trays for non-food items.
Product Packaging – Food Contact	Packaging intended to directly contact food or beverages and therefore subject to food-contact material rules in addition to PPWR obligations. These items must be suitable for storing, transporting or presenting food safely under expected conditions of use.	Paper or plastic food trays, beverage cups, molded fiber egg cartons, bottle carriers for filled drinks, salad bowls, snack bags, takeaway meal boxes, paper cups with plastic lining, food-contact films and wraps.
Product Packaging – Cosmetic Contact	Packaging intended to come into direct contact with cosmetic products such as creams, powders, lotions or liquids, including primary containers, closures and applicator-integrated packaging. These packaging items are intended to protect the cosmetic product, preserve its stability and quality, and help prevent contamination during normal storage and use.	Cosmetic jars and lids, pump bottles, lip balm tubes, mascara containers, sample sachets, sealed foil pouches, airless dispensers, compact cases with integrated trays.
Service Packaging	Service packaging means packaging that is designed and intended to be filled at the point of sale in order to dispense the product. It may be used for food and beverages, including takeaway applications, but also for non-food items filled at the point of sale.	Food-contact service packaging such as coffee-to-go cups, takeaway food boxes, french-fry trays, sandwich sleeves, bakery bags, disposable bowls and plates, soup cups, deli containers and cone holders, but also non-food service packaging such as self-fill screw bags, small parts bags or paper bags filled at the point of sale for loose non-food items.
Transport / Logistics Packaging	Packaging intended to group, protect or stabilise products during storage or transport rather than being presented to the end consumer. These items support handling efficiency, palletisation and shipment protection across supply chains.	Wooden pallets; crates; shipping cartons; stretch films; pallet straps; steel strapping; tensioning straps with clamping locks; transport sleeves; protective bulk packaging.

7. Go through the Q&A to generate your requirements list:

Answer packaging-related questions

Note: In some cases you can answer UNKNOWN. Then the related requirement will be added to your requirement list. You can adjust this at a later date.

Choose whether to track social compliance aspects
Links to Compliance Clips are provided in the questions for additional information

Note: You can choose the Q&A from an existing technical file from the drop down menu and click either Use & skip questions or Use & show questions. If you do not want to use existing Q&A, click No default answers.

8. Select how you want to create the file:

Do It Yourself (DIY) - Collect and review the document yourself
Supplier Connect (CONNECT) - ProductIP will contact your supplier and explain them the basics on how to upload document into your technical file
File Assembly Support Team (FAST) – ProductIP will act as your compliance expert secretariat and contact, push your supplier, review and link documents to the related requirements.

9. Click Create the Technical File!

Now you can:

Add additional related packaging under the Products tab by clicking Add product article.
Upload relevant documents under the Documents tab
Review applicable requirements under the Requirements tab
Link a packaging technical file to a product technical file using the BoM

Tips and best practices

Group packaging articles in one technical file only if they share the same supplier, market entry, regions, material, requirements and documents.
Be precise when selecting countries to avoid unnecessary requirements.
Revisit the Q&A section on the Product tab when you have more information on the packaging. Questions answered with UNKNOWN can be set to Yes or No, adjusting the requirement list accordingly.
The categories are not always exclusive. Packaging can have a Packaging Category and at the same time trigger additional use cases, for example E-Commerce, Grouped Packaging, Reusable Packaging, Beverage Packaging, Deposit and Return System or Single-Use Plastics. Therefore the question is not only “Which product category is the right one?”. But you set the most applicable ProductIP Packaging Category for the Technical File and then answer the Q&A Wizard questions to identify relevant properties and additional use cases.

Troubleshooting

Cannot find your supplier?

Check if their contact details are in your address book.

Missing requirements?

Review your Q&A answers - incorrect input can change your requirement list.

Technical File creation stuck?

Refresh your browser or clear cache.

Still having issues? Contact ProductIP via helpdesk@productip.com.

FAQ

Can I group multiple packaging items in one file?

Yes, if they share the same supplier, market release date, regions, material, requirements list and supporting documents. If these points are different, it is better to create separate packaging Technical Files. This keeps the documentation clear and easier to review.

What if the packaging has no own article number?

A separate packaging article number is not mandatory. If only the packaged product has an article number, you can use a clear internal packaging reference for the packaging. The packaging must still be clearly described and linked to the packaged product, for example through the Bill of Materials (BoM).

Do raw materials need their own PPWR product category?

No. Raw materials or semi-finished materials usually do not need their own PPWR product category.

Tape, carton board, film or similar materials become relevant when they are used as part of a specific packaging. In the packaging Technical File, they can be documented as materials, components or parts.

On which level should I select the PPWR category?

Select the category where it is clear which packaging is created and how it is used.

First choose the ProductIP packaging category that best matches the packaging. Then answer the Q&A Wizard questions to identify relevant properties and additional use cases.

What if my product category does not exist yet?

Select PROVISIONAL and provide the available information. A ProductIP Expert will check the file and assign the correct product category.

Can I edit my Q&A answers later?

Yes, you can reopen the Q&A and update your answers.

If your answers change, the requirements list can also change.

Related articles

Link a packaging technical file to a product technical file using the BOM