The third packaging check by Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has once again identified significant shortcomings in packaging reduction in German supermarkets and discounters. The study, which was carried out on a random basis in 48 branches of 12 supermarket, discounter and organic market chains, reveals that discounters such as Aldi Nord, Aldi Süd, Lidl and Norma in particular continue to generate large amounts of packaging waste. Only organic markets such as Bio Company, Alnatura and Denns perform satisfactorily.
The DUH analyses the efforts of the markets on an annual basis, Reduce packaging and offer reusable options. According to Barbara Metz, Federal Managing Director of DUH, this year's check once again shows a large gap between the sustainable advertising promises of the markets and the reality: „Our packaging check proves for the third year in a row: there has been a huge gap between sustainable advertising promises and packaging practice at supermarkets and discounters for years,“ said Metz. She emphasised the need legal requirements in order to achieve the binding waste prevention target of the EU Packaging Regulation. France is an example of how plastic packaging can be significantly reduced through legal measures.
Main points of criticism
The packaging check reveals that with Fruit and vegetables worsened the packaging balance by an average of 66 per cent is. Aldi Nord stands out particularly negatively here, offering 78 per cent of its fruit and vegetables in packaged form - an increase of 6 per cent compared to the previous year. The picture is similar for reusable bottles: They are still barely represented on the drinks shelves of Aldi Nord, Aldi Süd and Lidl. Norma only achieves a share of 21 per cent here.
Filling stations for dry foods such as muesli or rice are also rare. Edeka and Rewe were the only supermarkets to receive a yellow card, while the organic supermarkets Bio Company, Alnatura and Denns received green cards for their efforts to reduce packaging and offer more reusable products.
In view of these results, the DUH is calling on Environment Minister Steffi Lemke to introduce binding Measures to reduce single-use packaging. Specifically, a levy of at least 20 cents on non-ecological single-use plastic bottles, cans and drinks cartons is being called for. In addition, binding reusable quotas for drinks, including milk and wine, should be introduced. The so-called plastic tax for non-recycled plastic packaging should also be passed on to the responsible companies and no longer be financed from the federal budget.
Statutory reusable quota and its implementation
Although the packaging law in Germany stipulates a reusable quota of 70 per cent for drinks, this is neither binding for retailers nor is it sanctioned. As a result, in the DUH tests, the reusable offer at traditional supermarkets and discounters averaged only 30 per cent, far below the prescribed quota. While Netto Marken-Discount improves returnable bottles all other discounters perform significantly worse than supermarkets. Kaufland, Edeka and Rewe do offer reusable bottles for fresh milk and yoghurt jars, but only in small quantities. Aldi Süd, Aldi Nord, Lidl, Norma and Penny continue to offer these products exclusively in disposable packaging.
„The organic markets we analysed - Bio Company, Alnatura and Denns - once again demonstrate how environmentally friendly packaging can be. They performed better than supermarkets and discounters in all product categories analysed.“
Elena Schägg, Deputy DUH Head of Circular Economy
At Alnatura and Denns, for example, 92 per cent and. 87 per cent of fruit and vegetables unpackaged. Organic markets also set standards when it comes to filling stations for dry food and reusable cups and food boxes for coffee, salad or at cheese and sausage counters. Schägg emphasises that organic markets have been dispensing with a lot of unnecessary packaging for years and often rely on reusable packaging, which effectively reduces waste and contributes to climate protection. Nevertheless, it is important that the major food retailers also step up their efforts to enable as many people as possible to shop with as little packaging as possible.
DUH's third packaging check clearly shows that German supermarkets and discounters still have a lot of packaging left. Room for improvement when it comes to reducing packaging waste exists. Discounters in particular are lagging behind and continue to produce large quantities of disposable packaging. Without legal requirements and sanctions, it will be difficult, to achieve the EU-wide waste prevention targets. DUH is therefore calling for urgent measures from the German government to stem the flood of plastic and promote more reusable options.
Source: DUH
