With immediate effect, all closures on disposable drinks bottles made of plastic with a volume of up to three litres must be firmly attached to the container. The German government is thus implementing the European Union's requirements for greater resource and environmental protection.
Section 3 of the Single-Use Plastics Labelling Ordinance (EWKKennzV) comes into force today, 3 July, and with it the EU obligation for tethered caps. The aim of these tethered caps is to collect the closures together with the bottles for recycling and to dispose of them in a recycling centre. Avoid environmental pollution from carelessly discarded caps and closures. The measure is part of the EU's comprehensive strategy to strengthen the recycling of plastics and reduce environmental pollution. The switch to tethered caps has become established in practice: Numerous well-known manufacturers have already been using the new caps for several years. Furthermore the industry is constantly working on new packaging designs, to optimise handling.
„Tethered caps help to ensure that no more caps are lost and that all bottle components are recycled efficiently. Although this change requires some adaptation on the part of industry and consumers, it is also a further step towards promoting the circular economy and preventing careless littering. It might not have been one of the most urgent measures from a German perspective, but the industry has taken up the challenge courageously and delivered material-saving solutions. We consumers are getting more and more used to it every day.“
Mara Hancker, IK Managing Director Communications
In the German deposit system, bottles and caps have largely been returned together to date. The new EU regulation further reduces the risk of separation.
New closures already in use by numerous manufacturers
The beverage industry has responded proactively to the new requirements and developed efficient solutions that are not only environmentally friendly, but also ensure convenient handling for consumers. Well-known bottlers and brand manufacturers have already started introducing tethered caps in 2021 - After all, the launch was preceded by an intensive innovation and development process.
The EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive was adopted in 2019 to minimise the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. The introduction of tethered caps is a an integral part of this guideline.
