Ecovis Malta

Ecovis welcomes its new partner in Turkey

We are pleased to announce that the Turkish accounting firm ECOVIS Karden Serbest Muhasebeci ve Mali Müşavirlik AŞ (ECOVIS Karden) is now part of the ECOVIS International network.

ECOVIS Karden, based in Istanbul, Turkey, was founded in 2010 and focuses on the accounting and outsourcing needs of local as well as international clients. The company supports customers ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies utilizing the latest technological infrastructures to provide services to its customers.

Burak Karabiyik is managing partner at ECOVIS Karden. He states: “ECOVIS Karden always rooted its legal practice with an international focus. We are member of accounting firm networks and we are establishing foreign desks at our office. Therefore, we are honoured and delighted to join the Ecovis family. We are looking forward to working with its members, and actively participate in ECOVIS International’s initiatives.”

We warmly welcome our new colleagues from Turkey to the ECOVIS family!

Ecovis is back in Japan

We warmly welcome our new colleagues from Japan to the Ecovis family!

ECOVIS AKIA Tax Consultants was established in July 2008 by two partners to support foreign affiliated companies to enter the Japanese market. The office is located in Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city, just south of Tokyo. The city is known for its industries, international trade, and innovative technologies and has one of Japan’s busiest ports.

As an all-round consulting firm which has an accounting office, a social insurance and labour consultants office as well as a legal support office, ECOVIS AKIA Tax Consultants supports businesses of foreign affiliated companies in Japan. Today, it has a total staff of more than 40.

“We are thrilled to announce that we have joined the prestigious Ecovis family. As a dedicated all-round consulting firm with a passionate team of professionals, we are eager to collaborate with esteemed peers across the globe and contribute to the network’s collective success. Our commitment to delivering exceptional professional services and our continuous pursuit of excellence align perfectly with Ecovis’ values and vision. We believe that this partnership will not only enhance our capabilities but also provide invaluable opportunities for growth and innovation. We look forward to building strong, synergistic relationships, sharing insights, and working together to achieve our common goals. Together, we are confident that we can navigate the complexities of the global market and deliver unparalleled value to our clients,” state Akiyoshi Akasaki and Naoko Sato, partners at the Ecovis office in Yokohama, Japan.

EU Packaging Directive: Stricter rules for packaging

The European Union is significantly tightening the rules for packaging. A new regulation, the final version of which is expected this year, will create a comprehensive legal framework for more resource-efficient and recycling-friendly packaging.

Manufacturers, retailers and the logistics industry will face numerous new requirements. However, the detailed implementation of these is still partly open. The Ecovis experts provide an overview of the new regulations.

Targets for reducing packaging

The EU wants to reduce packaging. The volumes must be reduced across the EU

• by 5 percent by 2030
• by 10 percent by 2035
• by 15 percent by 2040

compared to 2024. Member States must also ensure that plastic packaging in particular is reduced in absolute terms.

For certain product groups such as fruit, vegetables and catering products, there will be a ban on single-use plastic packaging from 2030.

Sustainability and design requirements for packaging

In the future, packaging must be designed to be significantly more resource-efficient, recyclable and less pollutant-intensive. In addition, minimum recycled content for plastic packaging and weight and volume limits are planned. In online retail, packaging should be lighter and smaller.

Companies should now quickly start preparing for the future EU Packaging Directive.

Andreas Bachmeier, Management Consultant, ECOVIS Unternehmensberatung GmbH, Dingolfing, Germany

Labelling and information requirements

Packaging must contain detailed information on material composition and separation. Reusable systems must provide information on return and tracking. A harmonised EU logo for deposit and return systems is also planned. The use of questionable substances such as lead, cadmium or PFAS will be restricted or prohibited.

Obligations for producers, suppliers and fulfilment service providers

Packaging producers must meet extensive product requirements and submit declarations of conformity. Their suppliers are obliged to provide detailed material records.

Reuse and deposit obligations

In various segments such as beverages, transport and sales packaging, gradually increasing minimum quotas for reusable systems will become mandatory from 2030. Member States can allow pooling systems to achieve these quotas.

In addition, an EU-wide mandatory deposit system for single-use beverage packaging made of plastic, metal and aluminium up to 3 litres will be introduced. Member States can extend the scope to glass and introduce deposit and return systems for reusable packaging.

Extended manufacturer responsibility and registration

The Packaging Directive provides for extended manufacturer responsibility including registration obligations. This also applies to online platforms.

Regulations on environmental claims (greenwashing)

Product descriptions that refer to the environmental friendliness of the product are only permitted if the promised properties significantly exceed the legal minimum requirements.

For further information please contact:

Andreas Bachmeier, Management Consultant, ECOVIS Unternehmensberatung GmbH, Dingolfing, Germany
Email: andreas.bachmeier@ecovis.com