REP EIC: Definition and Progress in 2025

Last updated: 11 / 03 / 2026

The EIC REP, or Extended Producer Responsibility for Industrial and Commercial Packaging, is a new environmental regulation requiring companies to take charge of the management of their professional packaging once it becomes waste.

Initially planned for January 1, 2025, the implementation of the REP EIC is taking a little longer than expected. ETERNITY Systems takes stock of this regulation: what it is, what obligations companies have and how to anticipate the next steps.

Summary

The EIC REP in summary

– The REP EIC is a regulation in France which requires companies producing, importing or distributing packaging to take charge of managing their packaging once it has become waste.

– It aims to improve recycling and encourage the reuse of professional packaging, in order to reduce the quantity of waste sent to landfill or incinerated and to reduce its ecological impact.

– The EIC REP applies to packaging used in a professional context, whether primary, secondary or tertiary (buckets, boxes, pallets, plastic films, etc.).

– Companies must join an approved eco-organization or implement an individual system for managing their packaging. Some (future) eco-organizations such as Citeo Pro, Twiice, and Leko have already positioned themselves to apply for approval.

– Although planned for January 1, 2025, the implementation of the REP EIC has been delayed, with an operational launch now planned for the beginning of 2026 and a very probable merger with the REP Restauration – which has been operational since January 1, 2024 – to become the REP Emballages Professionnels.

What is the EIC REP?

The REP EIC (Extended Producer Responsibility for Industrial and Commercial Packaging) is a system resulting from the AGEC law (Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy), aimed at making companies responsible for the end of life of the packaging they produce. In accordance with the European directive 94/62/EC and Article L541-10-1 of the Environmental Code, this packaging REP aims to organize the prevention, collection, reuse, re-use and recycling of this packaging. This new framework thus requires companies to finance or implement the collection, sorting and treatment of their professional packaging.

According to ADEME: "Industrial and commercial packaging (EIC) used or consumed by professionals (excluding catering professionals) placed on the market falls within the scope of the EIC REP." Specifically, the EIC REP complements other EPR sectors (such as electrical equipment, batteries or household packaging) by specifically targeting non-household packaging used by professionals.

In any case, the idea of this REP EIC is to have a human approach to make economic actors responsible for the environmental impacts of their packaging and encourage them to reduce their waste production with concrete actions.

What packaging is affected by the EIC REP?

The EIC REP sector covers all industrial and commercial packaging that is not considered household packaging. This refers to packaging consumed or used in a professional setting, for the transport, handling, storage, or distribution of products, whether B2B (between professionals) or B2C (between professionals and customers).

There are three main categories of packaging covered by this new REP packaging sector:

● Primary packaging: this is packaging in direct contact with the product consumed (food, cosmetics, detergents, etc.) such as buckets, cans and drums used by professionals, for example.

● Secondary packaging: this is packaging intended to group together several product units, such as boxes or grouping bags.

● Tertiary packaging: this is packaging used mainly for logistics, such as pallets, covers, plastic films or transport containers.

The precise list of packaging types will soon be defined by a ministerial decree, currently being finalized. Note that catering packaging is not covered by this sector, as it is governed by other specific legislation, but it could be officially integrated into the Professional Packaging REP, which would thus combine the EIC REP and the Catering REP.

Who is affected by the EPR of industrial and commercial packaging?

Extended Producer Responsibility for Industrial and Commercial Packaging mainly concerns marketers, i.e. all companies that produce, import or distribute packaging intended for professionals.

The sectors most impacted by the EIC REP are those which use industrial packaging on a massive scale for the transport, logistics or sale of their products:

– B2B logistics and e-commerce: these sectors generate large quantities of packaging for the transport and storage of products, including cardboard boxes, pallets, plastic films, and other reusable containers.

– Construction and industry: with the use of heavy and varied packaging for the delivery of construction materials (wooden crates, pallets, etc.).

– Pharmaceuticals and chemicals: these sectors require specific packaging to guarantee product safety (cans, drums, transport containers).

– Professional food industry: the B2B food sector, which includes the wholesale distribution of food products, also uses a wide variety of packaging, particularly for transport and storage (crates, bins, plastic bags, etc.).

– Textiles and fashion: in the textile sector, packaging intended for distribution (bags, cardboard boxes, etc.) is also covered by the EIC REP.

What are the challenges of implementing the EIC REP?

The implementation of the EIC REP, and the management of packaging by producers, responds to environmental, economic and regulatory issues.

Environmental issues

The main objective of the EIC REP is to address the growing problem of waste generated by professional packaging. According to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, nearly 13 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated, all packaging combined, of which 8 million tonnes were professional packaging.

The REP professional packaging aims not only to improve the recycling rate of packaging, but also to encourage its reuse, that is, to recover packaging to reuse it in the same circuit, without transformation. For example, reusable bins, crates or pallets can be recovered, washed and reused several times, thus reducing the need to produce new packaging.

Economic issues

One of the main economic objectives of the EIC REP is to have producers internalize the costs of waste management, rather than leaving them to local authorities or citizens. This

encourages companies to take charge of the entire life cycle of their packaging, from design to end of life.

Regulatory issues

In France, although several EPR channels already exist, the management of professional packaging was still insufficiently structured. With this new channel, companies covered by the EIC EPR will have to meet several obligations:

– Join an approved eco-organization: companies can choose to join an eco-organization approved by public authorities. These eco-organizations are responsible for the collection, recycling and treatment of packaging placed on the market;

– Implement an individual system: companies that prefer to directly manage the collection and processing of their packaging must implement their own management system, known as an “individual system”;

– Make an annual declaration: regardless of the option chosen (eco-organization or individual system), all companies must declare, each year, the quantities of packaging placed on the French market. This declaration is mandatory and allows the authorities to monitor the evolution of professional packaging waste flows.

The operation of the EPR for industrial and commercial packaging is based on collaboration between companies, eco-organizations and public authorities to ensure optimal management of professional packaging throughout its life cycle.

Washing reusable packaging: an opportunity for the EIC REP

Reusing packaging is a very interesting lever in the logic of the EIC REP. It allows for a significant reduction in the production of new packaging, while minimizing the environmental impact linked to waste management.

In this context, ETERNITY Systems positions itself as a key player by offering complete solutions for the washing, repair, collection and redistribution of reusable packaging. These solutions are designed to guarantee the cleanliness and compliance of packaging so that it can be optimally reused. industrial washing not only helps maintain high standards ofhygiene, but also to extend the lifespan of packaging, while avoiding the waste of resources, reducing CO2 emissions and reducing the need for new materials.

What is the progress of the REP industrial and commercial packaging?

Initially scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2025, the regulatory implementation of the EIC REP is behind schedule. Indeed, to date, in spring 2025, the final texts, including the implementing decree and supplementary orders, have still not been published in the Official Journal. Although ADEME has piloted a prefiguration study in 2023, followed by a public consultation on the draft decree until 2024, the analysis of the returns is still in progress. And according to the CiFREP report of March 13, 2025, although significant progress has been made in preparing the EIC REP, several regulatory aspects remain pending. Among the main elements pending are the decrees relating to the scope of packaging, which must precisely define the types of packaging concerned by the sector, as well as the specifications of the eco-organizations, which will establish the operational rules for the structures responsible for the collection, recycling and treatment of packaging.

Thus, the effective launch of the REP packaging sector is now envisaged for the first half of 2026.

By adopting the requirements of the REP EIC, Companies can not only reduce their environmental impact, but also optimize their costs and actively contribute to a circular economy. Responsible management of professional packaging is necessary to meet current ecological and economic challenges.

Take the lead now and explore our washing solutions ETERNITY Systems to help you implement sustainable actions for your industrial and commercial packaging. Our white paper “EIC – reuse mode” is available by clicking on the button below:

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About the Author

Anthony ADAM

Communications and Marketing Manager at ETERNITY Systems, Anthony designs strategies and content to promote more sustainable consumption. He is a committed agent of change who combines creativity, rigor, and action to strengthen the visibility and impact of projects related to reuse and the circular economy.