The German Association of Carton Packaging for Liquid Food (FKN) warns against over-regulation as a result of the current draft bill on the national implementation of the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR). The association is particularly critical of the planned establishment of a new organisation for packaging reduction and a national 70 per cent reusable quota.
According to the FKN, both go well beyond the European requirements - with negative consequences for recycling structures, investment security and consumer prices. According to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, an additional organisation for reduction and prevention measures is to be created - with annual costs of around 90 million euros. This structure does not exist at EU level and, according to the FKN, would entail new fees and requirements for distributors without any recognisable ecological benefit.
„Germany is overstepping EU requirements. Special national approaches make functioning cycles more difficult and unsettle the industry. We need practical PPWR implementation instead of additional requirements with no recognisable ecological added value.“
Martin Schröder, FKN Managing Director
Reusable quota ignores reality
The association also criticises the planned 70 per cent reusable quota as excessive. According to the FKN, studies show that high-quality recyclable single-use packaging made from renewable raw materials - such as liquid cartons - is often ecologically equivalent or even more advantageous. In particular, the high energy and water consumption in reusable systems and the transport emissions are often underestimated.
Financing of the collection must be coordinated
Another point of criticism: the planned collection obligations in public spaces. Here, the association is calling for proper dovetailing with the mechanisms of the Single-Use Plastic Fund. Otherwise, there is a risk of double costs and additional administrative work for local authorities - with an impact on disposal fees and product prices.
Reform instead of regression
The FKN is positive about the planned retention of the 80 per cent recycling quota for liquid cartons. However, the association takes a critical view of the cancellation of the paper recycling quota, as this would put the brakes on investments in modern recycling technologies. The appeal to politicians is that the packaging turnaround must be efficient, fair to the polluter and investment-friendly - without special national approaches that jeopardise established cycles.
Source: FKN
