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1. Product protection: packaging design shall ensure protection of the product, from the point of packaging or filling until its end use, with a view to preventing significant product damage, loss, deterioration or waste. Requirements may consist of protection against mechanical or chemical damage, vibration, compression, humidity, moisture loss, oxidation, light, oxygen, microbiological infection, pest, deterioration of organoleptic properties, etc. and include references to specific Union law setting out requirements on product quality.

2. Packaging manufacturing processes: the packaging design shall be compatible with the packaging manufacturing and filling processes. The packaging manufacturing processes may determine packaging design elements, such as the shape of a container, thickness tolerances, size, feasibility of tooling, or specifications minimising waste in manufacturing. The processes operated by manufacturer of products may also require certain design elements of packaging, such as impact and stress resistance, mechanical strength, packing line speed and efficiency, stability in conveying, heat resistance, effective closing, minimum headspace, or hygiene.

3. Logistics: the packaging design shall ensure adequate and safe distribution, transport, handling and warehousing of the packaged product. Requirements may consist of dimensional coordination for optimum space utilisation, compatibility with palletising and de-palletising systems, handling and warehousing system, and packaging system integrity during transport and handling.

4. Packaging functionality: the packaging design shall ensure its functionality, taking into account the purpose of the product and particularities giving rise to its sale, such as sales for gift purposes, or on the occasion of seasonal events.

5. Information requirements: the packaging design shall ensure that any necessary information regarding the packaged product itself, its use, storage and care, including safety instructions, can be provided to end users. Requirements may include providing product information, instructions for storage, application and use, bar codes and the best before date.

6. Hygiene and safety: the packaging design shall ensure user and consumer safety as well as product safety and hygiene throughout the distribution, end use and disposal of the packaged product. Requirements may include those on safe handling design, child resistance, anti-tamper, anti-theft, anti-counterfeit, hazard warnings, clear identification of content, safe opening device or pressure-release closure.

7. Legal requirements: the packaging design shall ensure that the packaging and packaged product can comply with applicable law.

8. Recycled content, recyclability and re-use: the packaging design shall ensure reusability, recyclability and inclusion of recycled content as required under this Regulation. If the packaging is intended for re-use, it shall fulfil the requirements laid down in Article 11(1). This means that the packaging weight or volume may have to be increased beyond what would otherwise be possible under the other performance factors in order to enable for example a higher number of trips or rotations, to facilitate inclusion of recycled content or to enhance recyclability (for example when moving to a mono-material or post-consumer recycled content). Part B Assessment methodology and determination of the minimum packaging volume and weight The assessment of the minimum packaging volume and weight necessary to ensure the packaging functionality as described in Article 3(1), point (1), shall be explained in the technical documentation and shall include at least:

(a) the description of the outcome of the assessment, including the details of the calculation of the minimum necessary weight and volume for the packaging; possible variations between production batches for a same packaging shall be taken into account and documented;

(b) for each performance criterion as listed in Part A, a description which explains the design requirement that prevents further reduction of the packaging weight or volume without endangering the packaging functionality, including safety and hygiene, for the packaged product, packaging and user; the method used for the identification of these design requirements shall be described, and the reasons preventing further reduction of the packaging weight or volume shall be explained; all reduction opportunities with a given packaging material shall be investigated, such as the reduction of any superfluous layer which does not perform a packaging function; substitution of one packaging material with another shall not be considered sufficient;

(c) any test results, market research or studies that have been used for the assessment conducted under points (a) and (b).