> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.polygon-one.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Technical Documentation (Annex VII)

> Generate the Annex VII technical documentation per packaging unit, check for gaps and export it as a PDF

## Overview

The **technical documentation (Annex VII)** is the evidence that a packaging unit meets the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) — in particular the Art. 5 substance restrictions. Polygon One generates it **per packaging unit** from the current master, component and evidence data. You do not assemble a document yourself: the platform builds the complete Annex VII structure automatically.

<Info>
  The technical documentation is available **independently of the Declaration of Conformity**. You can generate it at any time from the unit's current data — even before an EU Declaration of Conformity has been issued.
</Info>

You find the technical documentation under **Packaging → Packaging units** on each unit's detail page, in the **Declaration of Conformity** section.

<Frame caption="Technical documentation and Declaration of Conformity panel on the packaging unit detail page">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/polygonone/images/ppwr/dokumentation/technische-dokumentation-panel.png" />
</Frame>

## What the technical documentation contains

The generated documentation follows the Annex VII structure (Module A — internal production control) and adopts the ZSVR sample document as its template. It consists of the following sections:

| Section                                | Content                                                                                                                                                             | Data source                                                            |
| -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Risk analysis**                      | Assessment of the risk of non-conformity (Low / Elevated / Not assessed) with rationale                                                                             | Derived from the weakest component (substance values + basis of claim) |
| **1. Packaging master data**           | Manufacturer, address, article number, GTIN, image/technical drawing, functional description, breakdown                                                             | Settings (manufacturer identity), packaging unit, components, evidence |
| **2. Assessment object**               | Main material type, packaging category, packaging format, weight, recyclability grade                                                                               | Packaging unit + components                                            |
| **3. Category-specific documentation** | Constituents, material composition (mass shares), recyclability calculation                                                                                         | Components (material, weight)                                          |
| **4. Further elements (c–f)**          | Drawings, standards/measurement methods, qualitative assessment under Art. 10/11, **test reports** (heavy metals, PFAS, recycled content) and the attached evidence | Component substance data + uploaded evidence                           |

<Info>
  Values that were not captured are explicitly marked **"not recorded"** in the document — Polygon One never invents values. This makes it immediately clear which entries are still missing.
</Info>

### Substance compliance under Art. 5

Substance compliance is the core:

* **Heavy metals** — the sum of lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium VI, limit **≤ 100 mg/kg**. The measured value, basis of claim and measurement method are shown per component.
* **PFAS** — only for **food-contact** components. Evidenced via an attestation or via a total-fluorine value (\< 50 mg/kg substantiates compliance).

Every substance value carries a **basis of claim**: **test report** or **supplier declaration**. Both are valid bases under Art. 16 — a separate lab report as a file is not strictly required; a supplier declaration is sufficient.

<Warning>
  The **recyclability grade** (A / B / C or **Non-recyclable**) is a **declared value**. The EU assessment methodology under Art. 6 is expected via a delegated act (around 2028) — Polygon One contains **no** grading engine and simply reflects the grade you provide. Likewise, **recycled content** (Art. 7, minimum quotas from 2030) is purely informational.
</Warning>

## Gaps and readiness

Before you generate the documentation, Polygon One shows directly on the component which entries are missing or still need substantiating:

<Frame caption="Gap notes and badges on the components of a packaging unit">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/polygonone/images/ppwr/dokumentation/technische-dokumentation-luecken.png" />
</Frame>

| Indicator                                   | Meaning                                                                             | Blocking?                   |
| ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| **Missing**                                 | Data fields are incomplete (e.g. mass, heavy metals, recycled content, PFAS)        | No — advisory               |
| **Basis missing** / **Claim basis missing** | A declared Art. 5 value has no basis of claim (test report or supplier declaration) | **Yes** — blocks submission |
| **No evidence in documentation**            | An applicable substance has not been recorded at all                                | No — advisory               |
| **No test report**                          | Compliant, but only evidenced by a supplier declaration (no test report)            | No — advisory               |

<Info>
  Only a missing **basis of claim** is a real block. All other badges are informational and prevent neither the technical documentation nor the Declaration of Conformity.
</Info>

## Generating the technical documentation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the packaging unit">
    Go to **Packaging → Packaging units** and open the unit you want.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate the documentation">
    In the **Declaration of Conformity** section, click **"Generate technical documentation"**.

    If no components have been recorded yet, the button is disabled and shows the hint **"Components missing — please record them first"**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download the PDF">
    Use **"Download PDF"** to get the complete documentation as a PDF file (file name `TD-…​.pdf`).

    <Frame caption="Generated technical documentation as a PDF">
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/polygonone/images/ppwr/dokumentation/technische-dokumentation-pdf.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

The uploaded **evidence** (test reports, technical drawings, supplier declarations) is appended to the PDF under **"Attachments / evidence"**, so the documentation is self-contained.

<Info>
  The PDF is generated in **German**. For markets with another official language, a translation may be required to place the packaging on the market — Polygon One points this out in the panel but does not perform the translation itself.
</Info>

### Alternatively: upload your own documentation

If you already have a technical documentation (or a supplier has provided one), you can attach it via **"Upload technical documentation"**. It is then used as the unit's Annex VII documentation and marked with a provenance chip (**Generated**, **Self-uploaded** or **Supplier-provided**).

## When generation is not possible

| Situation                                                                       | Behaviour                                                                                                                            |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| No or incomplete component data                                                 | Generation is not possible until at least one complete component has been recorded.                                                  |
| An issued Declaration of Conformity exists whose data now differs from the unit | The technical documentation is considered **out of date**. Issue a new version of the Declaration of Conformity so both match again. |

## Retention

Under the PPWR, the technical documentation and the Declaration of Conformity must be **retained**:

* **Single-use packaging: 5 years** from issuance
* **Reusable packaging: 10 years** from issuance

The retention period starts with the **issuance of the Declaration of Conformity** (where you choose between **Single-use (5-year retention)** and **Reusable (10-year retention)**). The technical documentation itself is regenerated from the current data at any time.

<Card title="EU Declaration of Conformity (Annex VIII)" icon="file-signature" href="/en/ppwr/dokumentation/konformitaetserklaerung">
  How to issue the Declaration of Conformity, collect it from suppliers, and start the retention clock.
</Card>