Producers (Packers)

Producers (Packers) are the entities responsible for placing on the market products that use packaging covered by the Deposit Return System (DRS). This group includes manufacturers, importers, and private label owners. Entities without a legal presence in Portugal may appoint an authorised representative to ensure compliance with national legislation.

Producers' Responsibilities

Covered Packaging

Eligibility Criteria

The DRS applies to non-reusable primary beverage packaging made of plastic, ferrous metals or aluminium, with a volume of less than 3 litres and intended for the Portuguese market. Eligible packaging must carry a unique global code (GTIN/EAN) containing data on product type, brand, responsible company, format, material and volume.

The following beverage categories are eligible:
natural and spring waters,
juices and nectars,
fruit and vegetable blends,
concentrates for dilution,
soft drinks, tea and coffee-based beverages,
energy and isotonic drinks,
beer, cider and alcoholic blends.
Service packaging and those containing more than 25% dairy-based ingredients are excluded.

Packaging must be compatible with high-quality collection, sorting and recycling processes, and must meet the technical specifications approved by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the Directorate-General for Economic Activities (DGAE).

Technical Specifications

Learn about the technical specifications of each part of the packaging covered by Portugal’s Deposit Return System (Volta), using the numbered illustration as a guide.

Labelling

Consult the technical specifications for packaging labelling under the DRS.

Plastic Bottles

Consult the technical specifications for plastic bottles under the DRS, with details on permitted materials, accepted formats, and the necessary conditions to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Cans

Consult the technical specifications for cans under the DRS, with details on permitted materials, accepted formats, and the necessary conditions to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Producer Manual

The Producer Manual sets out the technical and operational requirements for participating in the Deposit Return System (DRS), ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.

Audits

SDR Portugal conducts regular audits to verify producer compliance with system requirements.

These include checks on volume reporting, technical compliance of packaging, and proper application of DRS rules.

If irregularities are found, corrective actions and penalties may be applied.

Deposit Fee Collection

The deposit fee for covered packaging is charged to the producer at the point of commercialisation and transferred to SDR Portugal.

This amount is then passed along the value chain and ultimately returned to the consumer upon return of the empty packaging to an authorised return point.

Producer Membership Agreement

Placing covered packaging on the market requires a formal agreement between the producer and the System Operator, currently SDR Portugal. This agreement sets out the conditions for registration, mandatory labelling, volume reporting, auditing and invoicing. It also defines payment terms for the deposit and financial contributions, rules for managing additional system costs, and responsibilities in specific cases, such as returns exceeding 100%, use of international GTIN/EAN codes, labelling with stickers, and financial guarantees required by SDR Portugal.

Payments to SDR Portugal

Producers must pay the registration fee, the deposit value corresponding to the units placed on the market, and the financial contribution under the Extended producer responsibility policy. Payment conditions, deadlines and methods are specified in the membership agreement.

Producer Pre-Registration

Pre-registration is a mandatory step that validates producer eligibility before the formal registration of packaging. This process is conducted via SDR Portugal’s digital platform and facilitates compliance with system requirements.

Packaging Registration and Approval

Packaging registration requires the submission of detailed technical data, including material composition, format and labelling, as well as sample submission for compliance testing. Only packaging that fully meets the technical criteria will be approved for market placement.

Reporting and Declarations

Producers must submit regular declarations detailing the quantities of packaging placed on the market. These reports are essential for traceability and system efficiency. Failure to comply may lead to penalties.

FAQs

SDR Portugal offers an integrated solution to help Portugal make more effective, efficient and sustainable use of single-use beverage packaging. Learn how producers can take part in this transformation.

Downloadable Documents

Producer Manual

DRS Glossary

DRS Transition Period Guide

To be available in due course

DRS Technical Specifications – PET Bottles

To be available in due course

DRS Technical Specifications – Cans

To be available in due course

DRS Technical Specifications – Labelling

DRS Information System Registration Guide – Producers and Authorised Representatives

Draft Membership Agreement – Producers

To be available in due course

Draft Membership Agreement – Authorised Representatives

To be available in due course

Communication Guide for Registered Producers

Sample Submission Instructions

To be available in due course
Information sessions

Join SDR Portugal

Contact SDR Portugal to start your registration process in the Deposit Return System.

Join now

DRS

Producers

Collection Points

Contacts

geral@sdrportugal.pt
Avenida da República, nº 74, 1º esq.
1600-205 Lisboa

© 2025 SDR Portugal

SDR Portugal

O Sistema

Impacto

© 2025 SDR Portugal

SDR Portugal

The System

Impact

© 2025 SDR Portugal

Volta Symbol

  • The Volta® symbol must be placed within the visual field of the barcode, preferably in black on a white background. Other colour combinations may be used, provided they ensure sufficient contrast and readability;
  • Recommended minimum size: 10 mm;
  • Minimum permitted size: 8 mm;
  • Safety margin required around the letter “V”.

Barcode

  • Preferably in a vertical position;
  • Dimensions and safety margins must comply with GS1 standards;
  • Must be printed on the smoothest possible part of the packaging’s surface;
  • High contrast must be ensured to guarantee readability, preferably black on a white background;
  • The barcode printing area must not be transparent or metallic;
  • For bottles, the barcode must be placed on the main label of the bottle and never on the neck label;
  • For cans, the barcode must be placed at least 10 mm away from both the top and bottom edges of the can body.

Packaging Body Material

  • Accepted:

PET ( or ).

  • Not Accepted:

Other plastics.

Dimensions (*)

  • Diameter between 50 mm and 120 mm;
  • Height (with cap) between 85 mm and 360 mm.

(*) 10% tolerance

Colour

  • Accepted:

Colourless transparent or light blue transparent (“PET CLB”).

  • Conditionally Accepted:

Transparent green (“Green PET”) or transparent in other colours (“PET Colour”).

  • Not Accepted:

Black, opaque, metallic or fluorescent.

Barrier Materials and Additives

Barrier

  • Accepted:

Monolayer “PET CLB” with SiOx plasma.

  • Conditionally Accepted:
  • “PET CLB”: monolayer (with carbon plasma, PET blend or PTN) or multilayer (3-layer structure with up to 5% by weight of Nylon- MXD6, without tie layers, or PGA multilayer);
  • “PET Colour”: monolayer (with SiOx plasma, carbon plasma, PET and PTN blend, or PET and Nylon-MXD6 blend) or multilayer (3- layer structure with up to 6% by weight of Nylon-MXD6, PGA multilayer, or up to 3% EVOH without tie layers).
  • Not Accepted:
  • “PET CLB”: monolayer (with EVOH, PET blend or Nylon-MXD6 blend) or multilayer (3-layer structure with more than 5% by weight of Nylon-MXD6 or with tie layers, or 5-layer structure with Nylon-MXD6);
  • “PET Colour”: multilayer (with more than 6% by weight of Nylon- MXD6, more than 3% by weight of EVOH, or with tie layers).

Additives

  • Accepted:

UV stabilisers, acetaldehyde blockers, optical brighteners, and oxygen scavengers.

  • Not Accepted:

Additives not approved by EPBP and RecyClass (e.g. bio/oxo/photo-degradable compounds, nanocompounds, and organosilicon compounds).

Caps and Seals / Valves

Caps

  • Accepted:

PE and PP, with a density below 1 g/cm³.

  • Not Accepted:

Metal or other material with a density greater than 1 g/cm³.

Seals / Valves

  • Accepted:

PE, PP, PE+EVA, TPO with a density below 1 g/cm³, TPS with a density below 0.95 g/cm³.

  • Conditionally Accepted:

PET foam with a density below 0.95 g/cm³.

  • Not Accepted:

Materials with a density greater than 1 g/cm³ (e.g. PVC, silicone, metal, or other).

Labels / Tags / Sleeves

  • Accepted:

PE, PP, OPP, with a density below 1 g/cm³.

  • Conditionally Accepted:

PET foam, EPS, light metallisation with a density below 0.95 g/cm³, or paper without fiber loss.

  • Not Accepted:

Metal or other material with a density greater than 1 g/cm³ (e.g. PVC, PS, PET, PETG or PLA), PETG foam, or any material covering more than two-thirds of the bottle’s surface.

Adhesives and Inks

Adhesives

  • Accepted:

Insoluble or reactivatable adhesives that allow labels, sleeves, or wraps to detach in washing solutions at 60–80 °C.

  • Conditionally Accepted:

Soluble adhesives that allow labels, sleeves, or wraps to detach in washing solutions at 80 °C.

  • Not Accepted:

Other adhesives that do not allow labels, sleeves, or wraps to detach, that remain stuck to the PET, or that require temperatures above 80 °C.

Inks

  • Accepted:
  • Inks that are not soluble in the recycling process washing solutions and are not subject to exclusion proposals by EuPIA (**);
  • Direct or laser printing only for batch and expiry date identification.
  • Not Accepted:

Inks that are soluble in the washing solutions used in the recycling process, inks subject to the exclusion proposal by EuPIA (**) and inks that contain hazardous compounds (e.g. carbon black), metals or PVC.

(**) European Printing Ink Association

Others

  • Accepted:

Detachable components with a density below 1 g/cm³.

  • Not Accepted:

Materials with a density higher than 1 g/cm³ and non-detachable components.

Packaging Body Material

  • Accepted:

Aluminium or steel.

  • Conditionally Accepted:

Aluminium alloy or steel alloy mixed with other metals (maximum of 5% by weight).

  • Not Accepted:

Other metals, plastic, or any mixture of non-metallic materials.

Dimensions (*)

  • Diameter between 50 mm and 100 mm;
  • Height between 85 mm and 200 mm.

(*) 10% tolerance

Opening / Closing System

  • Accepted:

Same material as the body of the can.

  • Conditionally Accepted:

Other metals or plastic (except PVC).

  • Not Accepted:

Any component that may hinder recycling or pose risks during the compaction process in RVMs.

Labels / Tags / Sleeves / Seals

  • Conditionally Accepted:

Paper or plastic (except PVC).

  • Not Accepted:
Any component that contains PVC.

Inks and Printing

  • Accepted:
  • Inks not subject to the exclusion proposal by EuPIA (**);
  • Direct or laser printing only for batch and expiry date identification.
  • Not Accepted:

Inks subject to the exclusion proposal by EuPIA (**).

(**) European Printing Ink Association

Others

  • Conditionally Accepted:

Cans containing gas capsules (N₂, CO₂ or N₂/CO₂ mixture) for which it can be demonstrated that they do not pose risks during the compaction process in RVMs.

  • Not Accepted:

Any component that may pose risks during the compaction process in RVMs.