Packaging congress discusses regulation and practice
The congress in Berlin in mid-March will address key topics along the entire packaging value chain.
Read more "
The German Packaging Institute (dvi) has commented on a demand made by the Foodwatch organisation to Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke. According to this, cardboard trays and plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables should be banned as a matter of principle. In its statement, the dvi emphasises the protective functions of packaging for foods such as fruit and vegetables.
In its latest press release, Foodwatch also claims that fruit and vegetable packaging is fuelling climate change. In addition to plastic packaging, the organisation also includes paper and cardboard packaging and wants to introduce a general Ban on disposable fruit and vegetable packaging.
„This statement cannot be left unchallenged. Fruit and vegetables, like almost all foods, must be protected against spoilage and damage. Especially Soft and very ripe fruits such as strawberries, grapes or tomatoes benefit from packaging. After all, the biggest enemy of the environment and climate is food that has to be disposed of unused because customers no longer want to buy it due to damage or spoilage. Even a tomato that has burst open due to a lack of packaging or a wobbly, unpackaged cucumber still bear the high ecological footprint that has already been generated by the resources used, from sowing to harvesting and transport. These resources are simply lost and wasted when they are disposed of.“
Kim Cheng, Managing Director of the German Packaging Institute e. V. (dvi)
Sustainable protection through packaging
In the opinion of the dvi, a fact-based analysis of packaged foods shows a Environmental benefits of packaging. Kim Cheng explains:
„Food packaging only accounts for around 0.7 per cent of the total climate footprint of European consumers. Packaging therefore protects great values with little effort. The ecological footprint of packaged food is around 16 to 30 times larger than the footprint of the packaging. Food contains valuable resources ranging from water and fertiliser to energy. Not using packaging is a big ecological mistake. Currently, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, around 10.6 million tonnes of food in the bin. Packaging extends the quality, integrity and shelf life by days, weeks or even months. By preventing food waste alone, we can reduce our carbon footprint by 5 per cent. One Tripling the shelf life reduces the waste rate by 80 per cent! Packaging is a very decisive environmental and climate protector here.“
Kim Cheng
Source: German Packaging Institute e.V.
Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut - More news
Top Ten 2025: German Packaging Award 2025 - These are the winners
As 2025 draws to a close, we take a look back at the topics that have particularly moved the packaging industry. From innovative packaging solutions to trends in sustainability, we take a look at the top ten contributions from 2025 - today with number 6.
Read more "
dvi bids farewell to Winfried Batzke on his retirement
The German Packaging Institute (dvi) has now bid farewell to Winfried Batzke after 22 years of service.
Read more "
Dresden Packaging Conference 2025: Ways forward
The main topic at this year's Dresden Packaging Conference organised by the dvi was once again the PWWR and everything associated with it. The packaging journal was on site.
Read more "
EU relaxes PPWR requirements for load unit securing
The EU Commission has decided to exclude pallet wrapping and strapping from the reuse quotas of the Packaging Ordinance PPWR. The change follows intensive discussions with the industry - and is welcomed by the sector.
Read more "
Three times gold at the German Packaging Award 2025
At Fachpack, the German Packaging Institute (dvi) honoured the 37 winners of the German Packaging Award 2025 and announced the Gold Awards, with which the jury also honoured three particularly groundbreaking innovations.
Read more "