Why one template is not the job
The declaration is per packaging unit, not per company and not per product line. A portfolio of 300 SKUs across four markets is 300 declarations, each pointing at its own technical file, each re-issued when a supplier swaps a resin or a grade moves. The document is short; the bookkeeping is not.
The template and the generated declaration are the same document
Our free Annex VIII template and the declaration the product exports render from the same source and the same primitives — a test fails our build if a heading drifts on one side only. So this is not a choice between two formats: the template is the empty version of what the software fills, versions and keeps.
What the declaration contains
- Declaration number
- Name and address of the manufacturer
- Authorised representative (Article 17) — where applicable
- Responsibility
- Object of the declaration
- Conformity statement
- Harmonised standards or common technical specifications
- Notified body — where applicable
- Additional information
The numbered structure comes from Annex VIII of the regulation. Keep it — it is what an inspector reads.
Word template vs generated and maintained
| Word template | PPWR Connect |
|---|---|
| One document, filled by hand | One per packaging unit, filled from your SKU data |
| Re-typed when a material changes | Re-issued and versioned when the data changes |
| Retention tracked in a spreadsheet | Five-year retention tracked per unit |
| Technical file lives elsewhere | Technical file attached to the unit it supports |
| Free, and yours to keep | Free to preview, from €29 a month to export |
Questions we actually get
Do I need one declaration per SKU, or one per company?
One per packaging unit. The declaration asserts that a given packaging unit meets the essential requirements, so a portfolio of 300 units is 300 declarations — each pointing at its own technical documentation.
Who signs it?
The manufacturer, or an authorised representative appointed under a written mandate per Article 17. The signature carries responsibility for the declaration, so it is a named person, not a department.
How long do I keep it?
Five years after the last unit of that packaging is placed on the market — the declaration and the supporting technical documentation both, available to market-surveillance authorities.
What language does it have to be in?
The language or languages required by the Member State where the packaging is placed on the market. One portfolio sold across four markets can therefore need the same declaration in several languages.
Want the blank template first?
Take the Annex VIII model, field by field, with the guidance notes. Then come back when the re-typing starts to hurt.