I wanted to share an important update with my EU customers regarding shipping from my business.
Cosmicaa is a very small independent business based in Sweden, and over the years I’ve been incredibly fortunate to send my products to customers throughout Europe and around the world.
Due to changes to European packaging and recycling regulations, including the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), I have made the difficult decision to temporarily pause shipping to EU Member States outside of Sweden while there is more clarity around how the new requirements will affect very small businesses like mine.
Why am I temporarily pausing EU shipping?
The intention behind these changes is something I wholeheartedly support.
Reducing unnecessary packaging, improving recycling and making businesses more responsible for the packaging they place on the market are important steps towards reducing waste. I’m happy to see more being done in this area, and I absolutely believe Cosmicaa should do its part.
At the same time, I want to be mindful about how I go about doing my part, so that it is done properly and responsibly.
As a small Swedish business selling directly to customers across Europe, even relatively small numbers of orders to another EU country can potentially bring additional packaging registration, reporting and compliance requirements.
For large companies selling thousands of products into every European market, the administrative cost of complying with different national systems can be absorbed much more easily. For a tiny independent business sending only a handful of parcels to some countries each year, the same types of requirements can have a very different impact.
This is particularly difficult because the actual amount of packaging involved in those markets can be extremely small.
I don’t want to ignore those responsibilities or rush through compliance simply so I can continue accepting orders. For the time being, I therefore believe the responsible choice is to pause shipping to affected EU destinations.
Where can Cosmicaa currently ship?
Shipping within Sweden continues as normal.
Shipping to destinations outside of the European Union also remains available, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Norway and Switzerland, along with other destinations outside the EU that are not affected by this temporary pause.
Customers in other EU Member States will temporarily be unable to complete checkout with an affected delivery address.
What happens next?
My sincere hope is that the legislation and its implementation will continue to develop in a way that recognises the realities of micro and small businesses.
I believe businesses should take responsibility for the waste they create. At the same time, I hope there can be a proportionate way for very small businesses to fulfil that responsibility without facing significant fixed costs and administrative requirements for markets where they may send only a handful of parcels each year.
Cosmicaa is exactly that kind of business: a small independent shop in Sweden that happens to have wonderful customers scattered all around the world.
I very much hope that future guidance, exemptions or simplified arrangements for micro businesses will make it possible for me to resume shipping throughout the EU.
Until then, I would rather be cautious and make sure that Cosmicaa is doing its part, and doing it right.
I know this will be disappointing for some of my EU customers, particularly those of you who have been ordering from my business for years. I’m genuinely sorry that I cannot continue shipping to you for the time being.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support of my little Swedish business. It means more than you know.