High Risk
Phthalates in PVC storage products, REACH Annex XVII
PVC drawer liners, shelf matting, cable organisers, and soft storage bins frequently contain DEHP, DBP, BBP, or DIBP phthalates above the 0.1% (w/w) limit under REACH Annex XVII Entry 51. Testing is the only way to confirm, supplier declarations are routinely inaccurate.
High Risk
SVHC substances in plastic products, REACH Article 33
Products containing Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) above 0.1% trigger EU disclosure obligations. Bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate storage and certain flame retardants in plastic shelving are common SVHC issues in this category.
Medium Risk
PPWR packaging compliance, new obligations from August 2026
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) applies from 12 August 2026 and phases in recyclability, recycled-content and packaging-minimisation rules through 2030 and later. Products sold in the EU with excessive or non-recyclable packaging will need changes before those dates.
Medium Risk
Metal shelving and CBAM: check the customs code
CBAM applies by customs code, not by metal content. Steel furniture and shelving units classed as furniture are outside it, while some articles of iron or steel are inside. Importers of less than 50 tonnes a year of covered goods are exempt. Check the exact code against the CBAM goods list before you assume either way, and only then ask suppliers for emissions data.
Medium Risk
Children's room organiser crossover, Toy Safety Directive
Toy storage boxes, kids' desk organisers, and children's room furniture marketed for under-14s may trigger the Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC) in addition to GPSR. Chemical migration limits, mechanical safety, and age-grading requirements apply if the product is "clearly designed for use in play".
Watch
EU Digital Product Passport (ESPR, from 2028 at the earliest)
The Digital Product Passport comes from the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR), not GPSR, and applies only once a delegated act covers a product group. The working plan targets furniture for 2028 and textiles for 2027, with compliance usually 18 months or more after adoption, so storage furniture and fabric organisers are the likely first exposure. No passport is required for home storage products today. Factory-side data infrastructure is rarely in place, so ask suppliers early what material data they can document.
