The printing and publishing industry has been entering a new era of accountability for some time now. Starting January 1, 2023, organizations in Poland are preparing to implement a system of Extended Producer Responsibility (ROP).   However, the obligation to operate the system already in place is to come into force in Poland in stages, starting on January 1, 2026, and take full effect on January 1, 2028. During the transition period (2026-2027), individual regulations will be implemented, and in 2028 the current product fee for packaging will be abolished. 

  • January 1, 2026: Beginning of certain provisions of the ROP Law.
  • Years 2026-2027: Transition period, during which packaging fee rates will be gradually increased.
  • January 1, 2028: Fully implement the new ROP system and abolish the existing product fee for packaging.

The solution, is to reduce waste in real terms and strengthen the closed-loop economy. Sound complicated? Relax - we explain what it means in practice and how to prepare your business well for it. 

The general rule is: if you bring a product or package to market, you are also responsible for what happens to it after use.

The new regulations cover both the paper, publishing and printing industries - that is, those who market books, magazines, packaging, catalogs or advertising materials. Beginning in 2025, each such entity will have to report the amount of packaging materials used, cover part of the cost of managing them and co-finance recycling.

ROP in the paper and printing industry encompasses much more than just boxes and films. In practice, it applies to all printed and packaging materials that become waste after use - the from shipping packaging and foil wrappers, through wrappers, labels and banding, to paper promotional materials, catalogs and flyers.

This means that any book, magazine or advertising print can also be subject to ROP rules. Fortunately for the industry, the good news is that paper and cardboard are among the most environmentally friendly materials - they are easy to recycle, and their environmental impact and potential ROP charges are much lower than plastic or aluminum.

If your company has not yet begun work on a new accountability system, here are the recommended steps to take first:

  • Mapping packaging and printed materials, which go to market - from boxes to promotional materials.
  • Cooperation with suppliers, to obtain data on the composition and weight of raw materials used.
  • Selection of certified materials (FSC, PEFC, EU Ecolabel) - is not only an ecological direction, but also a clear advantage in the eyes of customers and business partners.
  • Betting on eco-design - Less plastic, more simple, homogeneous solutions to facilitate recycling.

Such an approach allows not only to meet ROP requirements, but also to strengthen the brand image - as a responsible, conscious and modern company. While ROP is a regulatory obligation, it can actually become a driver of positive change. For the publishing and printing industry, it's a great opportunity to show that printing can also be sustainable and responsible.

Conscious selection of materials, cooperation with certified suppliers and investment in recycling-friendly solutions are today not only a legal requirement, but also a strategy for building trust, customer loyalty and market advantage.

In a world where the question is increasingly being asked "what is it made of?", responsibility ceases to be a burden - it becomes a added value and a hallmark of the modern brand.DRUK-INTRO is implementing the Child Friendly Product project, the premise of which is to carefully analyze each raw and auxiliary material included in each children's book in terms of origin and safety of use - you can read more about it here: https://druk-intro.pl/2025/07/31/ppd-produkt-przyjazny-dziecku/