A ban on single-use plastic bags with a wall thickness of 15 to 50 micrometres has been in force in Germany since 1 January. This does not apply to very thin plastic bags, which are often used to weigh fruit and vegetables. According to data published today by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), their consumption in Germany totalled 3.65 billion pieces (2019). This means that each person in Germany used an average of 44 thin-walled plastic bags in 2019.
According to Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), the consumption figures for thin-walled plastic bags clearly show that their Exemption from plastic bag ban a fatal mistake is. The DUH is therefore calling on Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke to Extension of the plastic bag ban to include thin-walled plastic bags.
„The figures published today on the billions of thin-walled plastic bags being used show that their Exemption from the current plastic bag ban a serious omission is. It is unacceptable that, on the one hand, large plastic bags are banned and, at the same time, the free offer of small-format bags in almost all supermarkets is accepted with a shrug of the shoulders. It is therefore important that Environment Minister Lemke bans thin bags immediately. Fruit and vegetables that fit into small plastic bags can also be easily stored in reusable bags and nets.“
Barbara MetzDeputy DUH Federal Managing Director
Sustainable alternatives to plastic bags
There are already Practical reusable nets for fruit, vegetables and baked goods. Such nets are available in organic cotton or plastic. They are extremely robust, can be used hundreds of times and save the cost of producing a new disposable bag every time they are reused. Some supermarkets have now integrated the weight of reusable nets into the checkout system and automatically deduct it when weighing. The DUH also advises consumers not to switch to disposable paper bags.
Source: DUH
