How to generate a Declaration of Conformity
A Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is the document EU Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR) requires from August 2026 to prove that a packaging type meets empty space rules. PackGuard generates one per box type, showing the box's specifications, the average empty space ratio across all recorded orders using that box, and a compliance statement.
Prerequisite:
- At least one box in the catalog that has been used on orders (so there is real compliance data)
- Company name configured in plugin settings (recommended — the PDF shows a placeholder otherwise)
Step 1 — Open the box
Go to Orders > PackGuard > Box Catalog and click on the box you want to generate the declaration for.
Step 2 — Open the preview modal
In the box detail smart-bar, click Generate Declaration.
The preview modal shows:
- Declared by — the company name from plugin configuration (or a placeholder if not set)
- Packaging specifications — internal and external dimensions, material, box type
- Compliance — average empty space ratio across all tracked orders using this box, the configured threshold, and a compliance or warning statement
- Generated at — current date
If Company name is not configured, a yellow alert appears at the top of the modal. Click Open plugin configuration to fill it in, then re-open the modal.
Step 3 — Download the PDF
Click Download PDF in the modal footer.
The file downloads as Declaration_{BoxName}_{YYYY-MM-DD}.pdf. It contains the same information as the preview, rendered with self-contained inline CSS. The title and subtitle (default: "Declaration of Conformity" / "PPWR Article 11") are set in plugin configuration and appear at the top of the PDF.
Customise the PDF header
Go to Extensions > My extensions > PackGuard > Configuration.
- Declaration title — the main heading on the PDF (default:
Declaration of Conformity) - Declaration subtitle — the subtitle below the heading (default:
PPWR Article 11). Clear this field to hide the subtitle. - Company name — shown as the declaring entity. Leave empty to use the shop name.
When does the compliance statement say "WARNING"?
If the average empty space ratio for the box type is above the configured block threshold, the PDF includes a warning statement:
WARNING: This packaging type currently exceeds the configured empty space threshold. Corrective action is recommended.
This does not prevent you from downloading the document, but it signals that you should review your box selection practices for this box type before submitting the declaration in an audit.
Re-generating the declaration
Each download is generated fresh from the current data. Re-generate the PDF after:
- the box's dimensions are updated
- more orders have been processed (the average empty space ratio will change)
- plugin configuration is changed (company name, title, subtitle)