German environmental organisation Deutsche Umwelthilfe calls for additional levy on single-use deposit

Two years after the 70 per cent reusable quota for drinks packaging came into force, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) is taking stock with a recent survey. Their conclusion: the trend reversal in favour of reusable packaging has not been achieved.

The DUH survey was aimed at 37 large retailers and bottlers. Only three companies, the retail chain real and the breweries Radeberger and Bitburger, stated that they fulfil the reusable quota of 70 per cent. All other companies surveyed fell short of the statutory reusable quota or did not wish to provide any information. The number of companies that did not provide any information was 26, which is likely to reduce the actual significance of the survey.

Additional levy required

Nevertheless, DUH is making a political demand to the Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze. She should introduce a levy on disposable plastic bottles and drinks cans from at least 20 cents in addition to the one-way deposit introduce.

„We cannot accept that retailers such as Aldi and Lidl as well as bottlers such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Danone are still ignoring the legal reusable quota two years after it came into force. Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze needs to ask herself whether she is setting the pace in terms of environmental policy. She must Reusable quota through sanction measures implement. A tax on single-use plastic bottles and cans would be the most effective means.“ Barbara MetzDeputy DUH Federal Managing Director

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Room for improvement in the reusable quota

Specifically, the DUH the strategy of discounters Aldi and Lidl with a reusable quota of zero. Netto Marken-Discount shows that discounters can also offer reusable bottles: After all, half of its drinks are sold in reusable bottles. Coca-Cola also falls well short of the legal reusable target of 70 per cent with a reusable share of only 38.8 per cent. And in the non-carbonated mineral water segment, Nestlé only has a reusable quota of 13 per cent.

„Edeka and Kaufland have a reusable share of around 50 per cent. This means that the reusable range is above the average rate of the overall market of around 41 per cent, but far below the target value of 70 per cent in the Packaging Act. Full-range retailers in particular, such as Edeka and Rewe, who are big on sustainability, need to improve quickly. The regional companies and franchisees should primarily offer reusable products from the local area.“ Thomas FischerDUH Head of Circular Economy

Source: Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V.