The notion of “graphic paper” applies to all papers weighing less than 224 g/m².
The paper products concerned include (non-exhaustive list): brochures, leaflets, catalogues, magazines, newspapers, mailings, headed paper, management documents, envelopes, posters, user manuals, decorative paper, receipts, tickets, etc.
Blank paper is declared directly by the paper mills manufacturing it.
The EPR applies to you if you place “graphic” paper on the market, or, in other words, you ask a printer to print out a paper product for your company’s use. If that is the case, you are responsible for declaring the paper volumes and paying the corresponding contribution.
The EPR also applies to companies who import or resell printed or blank paper products in France (i.e. those who are the first to invoice French VAT).
The paper EPR applies regardless of the volume. As soon as you place any paper on the market, you have to join Citeo, the only producer responsibility organisation approved for paper by the French state.
You can join via Citeo’s client portal: https://clients.citeo.com/fr/public/registration/papers
Citeo is approved for both EPRs: the graphic paper EPR and the EPR for household packaging.
You can use the same customer account for both EPRs, but the contracts, declarations and invoicing are two completely separate things. This means you have to take out two memberships on the portal, one for packaging and one for graphic paper: https://clients.citeo.com/fr/public/rep-choice
If you join today, you will need to declare any paper placed on the market over the three last years, regardless of the volume.
Under five tonnes, you don’t pay anything.
Over five tonnes, the rate is updated every year. For paper placed on the market in 2022, the base rate per tonne of paper is €65 excl. tax.
Depending on the type of declaration chosen (simplified or detailed), the rate may be adjusted upwards or downwards.
Even if you place less than five tonnes of graphic paper on the market annually, you still need to join because having a unique identifier is compulsory. The unique identifier needs to be transmitted to the marketplaces you use to sell your products and also needs to appear on all contractual documents and T&Cs.
You also need to join to access all the information on adding Sorting Info to your graphic paper products.