Applying for a UK Green Dot® licence gives your company the following safeguards:

• import/export
  If you import pre-packed products from another European country you may find that these are marked with a Green Dot® and in order to place them on the market you will need to apply for a licence if the foreign brand owner has not already done so. Alternatively, you may be a brand owner based in the UK and shipping your packed product to other European countries where the Green Dot is required to demonstrate compliance with packaging recycling responsibilities. You may find that it is less disruptive and more cost efficient to make all packaging (regardless of destination) to the same design specifications and as such show the Green Dot® on all packaging including that which may go to UK customers. For more information about European use of the Green Dot® please click here



• legal protection
  The Green Dot® is a registered trademark both nationally and internationally. This enables defence of the mark against unauthorised use such as using the mark in deviation of its meaning or in a misleading way. It is illegal to use the Green Dot® trademark in the UK if you are not formally registered to do so.



• consumer protection
  Licensing the Green Dot® trademark protects the consumer from misrepresentations of its meaning. The Green Dot® is not a recycling symbol, and must not be intended for that purpose. Licensing the Green Dot's® activities ensures that the Green Dot® will not be used to 'deceive' the consumer as those users can be provided with suitable guidance. In certain scenarios of continued misuse the Green Dot Licensing Company refer cases to Trading Standards Officers who can also decide to bring legal action against the infringer.

Please note: Where legal notice is served by the Green Dot Licensing Company to notify a company of their infringement (either non-registration or misleading use) a fee of £250 will be due for every letter sent.