Italy — Packaging Environmental Labelling Requirements

Mandatory since 26/09/2020 under Article 219(5) of Legislative Decree 152/2006

The short version

01 There is no Italian logo

The obligation is information, not artwork. Graphics, colours and typeface are not prescribed — a monochrome text label is fully compliant.

03 In Italian

An English-only instruction does not meet Article 219(5).

02 Two things per component

The material code and the collection stream, for every part a consumer can separate by hand.

04 Certification marks are optional and separate

None of them satisfies Article 219(5), and each needs an entitlement on file.

What a compliant Italian label must carry

Applies to every separable component. B2B-only packaging needs the material code but not the consumer instruction.

1	Material code on every component — alphanumeric per Commission Decision 97/129/EC. A pack with a card sleeve, a plastic tray and a film lid needs three codes.
2	Disposal instruction for the consumer — in Italian, naming the component and its collection stream, e.g. “Vassoio in plastica — Raccolta plastica”.
3	“Separate the components” — where parts separate by hand, particularly when all instructions sit on one component.
4	“Check your local authority rules” — recommended; collection differs by municipality.
5	No prohibited or unsupported claims — no “100% riciclabile”, no vague green claims, no self-made symbols, no Möbius loop with a number in it.
6	Legible type size — x-height 0.9 mm or above where the largest surface is under 80 cm².
7	Digital alternative signposted — on a small pack the instruction may sit on a QR or the CONAI e-label, provided on-pack signage points to it.

A compliant label, and the four ways packs fail

✓ COMPLIANT — ONE LINE PER COMPONENT

Astuccio — 21 PAP — Raccolta carta

Vassoio — 5 PP — Raccolta plastica

Film — 4 LDPE — Raccolta plastica

Separare i componenti prima di conferire.

Verifica le disposizioni del tuo Comune.

✗ FAILS

✗ “Imballaggio riciclabile al 100%”

✗ One pack-level instruction for three materials

✗ Material codes but no collection stream named

✗ Instruction in English only

✗ Möbius loop with a number inside it

Stream colours are optional — UNI 11686

Colour is not mandatory. Where you choose to colour-code, CONAI points to UNI 11686 so the consumer sees consistent colours across brands. Swatches below are indicative — take exact values from the standard before artwork.

Plastic & metal

Raccolta plastica e metalli

Paper & card

Raccolta carta

Glass

Raccolta vetro

Organic

Raccolta organico

Residual

Raccolta indifferenziata

Voluntary marks you may also carry

All optional. None satisfies Article 219(5) and none replaces the material code or the disposal instruction. Each is licensed or certified — the check is that you hold the entitlement, not that the artwork looks right.

Compostability — certified to EN 13432

CIC Compostabile

Italian Composters Consortium with Certiquality.

OK compost INDUSTRIAL

TÜV Austria. Industrial only — not home.

Seedling

European Bioplastics; via TÜV Austria or DIN CERTCO.

DIN Geprüft Home Compostable

DIN CERTCO. A different claim from industrial.

Compostable packs carry extra label duties. Article 182-ter(6) requires the label to state compliance with EN 13432 (or EN 14995 for non-packaging), identify the producer and the certifier, and instruct the consumer to use organic collection.

A compostability logo on its own is a fail. Industrial and home compostable are distinct claims — not interchangeable.

Recycled content and recyclability

Remade in Italy®

Accredited recycled content with traceability. All materials.

Plastica Seconda Vita

Recovered-plastic content. Plastic packaging only.

FSC Recycled®

Licence code must be present and valid.

Metal Recycles Forever

Steel and aluminium. Shown inverted — supplied as white artwork.

Aticelca 501 — “Riciclabile con la carta”

Four graded levels — A+, A, B, C. Each requires a UNI 11743:2019 laboratory test result on file, and the grade shown on the mark must match the test. This is the only Italian mark that speaks to paper recyclability; it does not replace the material code or the disposal instruction.

What we need from you

1	A component list for each SKU sold in Italy — every part a consumer can separate by hand, with its material.
2	Current Italian artwork or a proof per pack — so we can check it before plate release.
3	Certificates for any voluntary mark you carry — EN 13432, the Aticelca test report, FSC/PEFC licence codes, Remade in Italy or PSV.
4	Confirmation of the B2C or B2B channel per pack — B2B-only packs need the material code but not the disposal instruction.