In Germany, the volume of packaging is continuing to fall, while the recycling rate and Germans' willingness to separate waste are increasing. This is according to the latest AVU Packaging Monitor 2025, which was conducted by the market research institute YouGov on behalf of Allianz Verpackung und Umwelt (AVU).
The volume of packaging in Germany fell to 17.9 million tonnes in 2023. Compared to the previous year, this is a decrease of 1.1 million tonnes. The volume of packaging could fall by a further 1.3 million tonnes by 2030.
The decline in packaging volumes is partly due to economic effects, according to the report. Commercial packaging, for example, was used significantly less. In the case of consumer packaging, among other things. the trend towards reusable packaging and packaging optimisation also plays a role. According to forecasts, the volume of packaging in Germany could fall by a further 1.3 million tonnes by 2030. A sharp decline in the use of plastic packaging in particular is predicted.
Recycling on the rise
An ever-increasing proportion of packaging is being recycled in Germany: the material recycling rate rose by 0.9 percentage points to 75.4 per cent in 2023. The increase was particularly significant
Recycling rate of beverage cartons increased: by 7.6 percentage points to 70.4 per cent.
Facts and consumer perception
Another finding of the survey: Germans show a high level of willingness to separate waste, but there is room for improvement in their confidence in recycling. Waste separation in the household is an important prerequisite for high-quality recycling. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of this: Waste separation is considered „very important“ by 54 per cent of respondents - an increase of 4 percentage points compared to 2024.
However, there is still room for improvement in terms of confidence in recycling: Only just under one in two (44 %) believe that packaging recycling works well in Germany. Waste separation is therefore taken seriously, but there are still doubts about the effectiveness of the recycling system.
Sustainability and recyclability are strong purchasing criteria. Two thirds of respondents rated the recyclability of packaging as a purchase decision criterion. For almost as many, the perceived sustainability of the packaging is also relevant.
YouGov conducted the survey in June 2025 with >2000 people. The packaging data comes from the Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung (gvm).
Source: AVU
