Oversized packaging not only deceives the customer, but also violates the principles of the circular economy

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 02. 13. 11:57

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It often happens that a half-kilo meat product almost getting lost in a disproportionately large plastic tray. Although the indicated weight is correct, the visual appearance is deceptive: the product appears much larger on the shelf than it actually is. This in itself raises important consumer protection issues, however, the latest article by Körkörös.hu also reveals that larger packaging also causes significantly greater environmental damage!

In other words, not only is the customer’s perception distorted, but the logic of the circular economy is also violated. More plastic, larger transport volumes, more waste – all this in an age when, in principle, we should be moving in the exact opposite direction. The European Union has already recognized this, and in its new packaging regulation (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, PPWR) it clearly states: the weight and volume of packaging must be reduced to the minimum necessary for its function. In order to curb the practice known in the industry as “slack fill”, the PPWR regulation sets a strict limit: in the future, the empty volume of packaging may not exceed 40%. “Unnecessary empty space” is no longer just an aesthetic issue, but also a regulatory target.

In Hungary, the size of the packaging itself is currently not prohibited, as long as the product complies with consumer protection and labeling regulations. If the packaging is capable of misleading the consumer, it may become a consumer protection issue, which falls under the jurisdiction of the competent authority – currently the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority. If the problem arises more as a market practice, at a systemic level, the role of the Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (GVH) may also arise, as gaining a competitive advantage with apparent quantities may even qualify as an unfair commercial practice. The issue of packaging waste and resource efficiency is an environmental policy matter, which in Hungary falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Energy.

Based on publicly available information, there is currently no known precedent in Hungary in which an official procedure has been initiated specifically due to oversized packaging or a product recall has been initiated solely due to the size of the packaging. However, this does not mean that the phenomenon is not known – rather that no one has called the problem by name so far.

Sanctioning is not easy either, which is why publicity itself can be an effective tool: a packaging “list of shame”, comparative studies, civil or professional analyses could all help to make it visible: which manufacturers are truly striving to save materials – and which are those who are more likely to deceive consumers.