On 20 January 2021, the German government intends to present a draft amendment to the Packaging Act. Among other things, it provides for reusable solutions in the to-go sector and an extension of the mandatory deposit to almost all disposable plastic bottles.
The Association of Plastics Manufacturers Plastics Europe Germany (PED) and the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) support the proposals contained in the draft to promote waste prevention and the circular economy.
„Plastic packaging is often the material of choice for good reason. In order to further improve the handling of packaging waste, we need to keep plastics in the value chain. It is important to have a standardised approach throughout the EU. We must pursue the common goal of reducing the impact on the environment and promoting circular concepts that reduce the amount of waste.“ Ingemar Bühler, PED-Managing Director
As an important step towards avoiding waste the German government wants reusable solutions in the to-go sector. Providers of food and beverages should obliged to do so from 1 January 2023 to also offer their products in reusable packaging. Bühler comments: „There are already functioning reusable solutions for many applications, including those made from plastic. In these cases, it is important to support the availability of reusable options for consumers.“
The draft also includes an extension of the mandatory deposit to almost all disposable plastic drinks bottles (such as fruit juices). „In these areas, deposit systems can make an important contribution to the recycling of plastic drinks bottles and thus promote a circular economy with plastics,“ says Bühler. In line with the EU requirement, the German draft law also stipulates that certain single-use plastic drinks bottles made of PET must consist of at least 25 per cent recyclates from 2025 (from 2030: 30 per cent).
Environmental Action Germany calls for improvements to the Packaging Act
The German environmental organisation Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has called on Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze to make improvements to the draft Packaging Act. The environmental and consumer protection association called for an incentive tax of at least 20 cents on to-go cups and food boxes made from disposable plastic, which is to be used specifically to promote reusable systems.
DUH welcomed the extension of the single-use deposit to all plastic bottles and cans. However, according to the association, the mandatory deposit should also apply to beverage cartons, as many of them are carelessly disposed of in the environment and too few are recycled. Environment Minister Schulze must ensure that bottlers and retailers implement the existing reusable quota of 70 per cent for drinks packaging. A levy of at least 20 cents on disposable plastic bottles and cans is also necessary here.
Carton packaging association rejects deposit for drinks cartons
The DUH demands were rejected by the Trade association for carton packaging for liquid foodstuffs e.V.. It rejects a deposit on drinks cartons, it said in a statement. Although this would allow slightly more milk and juice cartons to be collected than via the yellow bin, it would only slightly improve the ecological balance. Even without a deposit, the beverage carton performs significantly better than all other beverage packaging in terms of climate protection - including returnable glass bottles.
With a deposit, many retailers would discontinue drinks in cartons and replace them with plastic bottles. The deposit would therefore effectively act as a ban. This is despite the fact that plastic bottles are three times more harmful to the climate than drinks cartons, the trade association adds.
SourcesPlastics Europe Deutschland (PED), Deutsche Umwelthilfe DUH, Fachverband Kartonverpackungen für flüssige Nahrungsmittel e.V.
