Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) is putting a stop to what it considers to be misleading false claims by the private dairy Bauer about packaging for vegan cheese that is supposedly 100 per cent recyclable. The packaging in question was advertised as fully recyclable, although it consists of a composite of plastic and paper. However, this composite packaging is not suitable for complete recycling and often ends up being incinerated.
The dairy's statement was countered by the DUH with a The dairy signed the cease-and-desist declaration, thereby admitting the consumer deception. The products affected were „Grünkraft Bauern-Scheibe pur“, „Grünkraft Bauern Scheibe-Schnittlauch“ and „Grünkraft Bauern-Olive“.
„In our opinion, the private dairy Bauer has tried to minimise its Presenting products as more environmentally friendly through false advertising promises, than they are and thus gain a competitive advantage. We take rigorous action against such environmental lies. However, the enforcement authorities of the federal states responsible for the inspection should finally review statements on recyclability and the use of recycled materials in packaging. We are not aware of any such checks by the federal states, but they are urgently needed, as the case of the Bauer private dairy shows. If legal regulations are not checked, then nobody will comply with them.“
Barbara MetzDeputy DUH Federal Managing Director
Thomas Fischer too, German environmental aid-Head of Circular Economy, emphasised that new incentives are needed from the government to encourage companies to improve their packaging. In particular, a new interpretation of the plastic tax could lead to positive changes.
„There is still too much poorly recyclable or non-recyclable packaging on the market. The sortability and recyclability of packaging can be improved with simple measures. However, such measures often do not pay off for companies. To ensure that poorly recyclable or non-recyclable packaging is no longer worthwhile, the traffic light coalition must create financial incentives for companies, staggered according to recyclability and the use of recyclates. This would be possible through the Plastic tax can be passed on to the responsible companies and an ecological design of the licence fees in the Packaging Act is possible. So far, the plastic tax for non-recycled packaging has been financed from consumers“ tax money and companies that do not act ecologically have been released from their responsibility."
