Do I need to register for a LUCID number for selling within Germany?

Written by

Agate Kraukle

Note

The EPR regulatory framework continues to evolve, and significant changes are expected following the application of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). As a result, the guidance provided in this article may be affected. We will continue to monitor regulatory developments and update our guidance as further clarity becomes available. EPR requirements differ between jurisdictions, and packaging-related obligations may remain with merchants depending on the applicable legal framework. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Merchants remain responsible for assessing their own EPR compliance obligations.

As of 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the German Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG) change who needs to register with Germany's Central Packaging Register (LUCID) and how. This affects all businesses and online sellers who ship packaged goods to customers in Germany.

Do I need to register with LUCID myself?

Yes. As of 12 August 2026, registering with LUCID is a personal obligation each business must complete under its own name — this applies even if you use Printify to fulfill all of your orders to Germany. You can no longer use Printify's LUCID ID in place of your own registration.

This is a change from previous guidance: until 11 August 2026, merchants who used Printify exclusively for German fulfillment could provide Printify's LUCID ID to their sales channel instead of registering separately, but updated German regulations no longer provide this option.

Note

You have until September 12, 2026 to do so if you haven’t registered before under the old regulation, or in case you had registered, you will have until November 12, 2026 to update your LUCID registration.

Do I need to do anything else after registering with LUCID?

While registering with LUCID notifies German authorities that you are putting packaging on the market, it doesn't actually get anything recycled. For that, you need to pay a company to physically collect and recycle an amount of packaging waste equivalent to what you're putting into circulation.

In Germany, this collection/recycling work is done by a handful of licensed private companies called "Dual Systems" (the name comes from this being a second, privately-run collection system that runs alongside the normal public household trash collection). Der Grüne Punkt is the best-known one, but there are several others (Interseroh, Landbell, etc.). Choose one from the list here and sign a contract with them.

The chosen Dual System Provider will then request that you report on how much packaging you've put on the German market and what it's made of (cardboard, plastic, etc.). The Dual System Provider will then invoice a fee based on the reported quantities. Printify is working on offering support with the reporting obligations that arise with LUCID registrations. More information on this will be shared as soon as possible.

If your business isn't established in the EU, appoint an authorised representative in Germany. More information on the Authorised Representative requirement in Germany can be found here.

Required steps

Register with the LUCID under your own business name.
Enter into a system-participation agreement with a Dual System provider, e.g. Der Grüne Punkt, to manage recycling compliance. German Dual System Providers can be found here.
Report your packaging volumes when required.

For more information, please refer to the German packaging authority Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR) explanations on PPWR here and registration in LUCID here.

Submitting your LUCID number to your sales channel

Sales channels require sellers shipping to Germany to submit a valid LUCID ID under their own business name. Once you've registered, submit your own LUCID ID directly through your sales channel. Steps for Etsy and eBay US are below; for other sales channels, contact that platform's support team.

Submitting a LUCID registration number

To Etsy

Navigate to Etsy Dashboard → Finances → Legal and tax information.
Under Government Registrations, you'll see the German LUCID identification number section.
Click the Add LUCID ID number button to add your own LUCID registration number.

To eBay US

Go to the eBay Account section in My eBay.
Select Business Information in the section Personal Information and privacy (you may be prompted to log in again).
Go to the Business details section and select Add next to Lucid ID.
Enter your own LUCID registration number and click Save.
You'll see confirmation that your LUCID ID has been stored.

If you use other fulfillment providers in addition to Printify

Your own LUCID registration and reporting cover your packaging regardless of which fulfillment provider(s) you use. If you work with more than one, or ship some orders yourself, make sure your reporting reflects all of that packaging, not just orders placed through Printify.

If your sales channel flags your submission

If a sales channel does flag your submission, check that your business name and VAT details match exactly what you entered in LUCID.

Note

The LUCID process and requirements are actively evolving alongside the PPWR's rollout. We're monitoring updates and will revise this guidance as further clarity becomes available.

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact our Support Team.