The Federal Ministry for the Environment has submitted the draft for a new Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG) for consultation with the federal states and associations. The draft is intended to transpose the EU requirements into German law from August 2026 and includes financial contributions to packaging avoidance, higher recycling quotas and new authorisation requirements for manufacturers and organisations.
According to the Ministry, the new law is intended to replace the previous Packaging Act while retaining the structures established in Germany. For the first time, the draft defines approval procedures for all organisations that assume extended producer responsibility. In future, producers who are not affiliated to any organisation will have to apply for individual approvals from the Central Agency Packaging Register, which will have to be additionally financed.
Financial contributions to waste prevention
The EU requirements oblige all member states to ensure that certain stakeholders use a minimum proportion of their budget for waste prevention measures. The draft stipulates that dual systems, industry solutions, other producer responsibility organisations and unrepresented manufacturers pay five euros per tonne of packaging provided to a joint organisation. Among other things, these funds are intended to promote new reusable systems or finance educational measures for refilling.
Higher recycling rates from 2028
With the VerpackDG, the German government is also planning to increase the recycling requirements for dual systems. The quota for ferrous metals and aluminium is to rise to 95% in each case. For plastic packaging, the previous recovery rate will be replaced by a recycling rate of 75 per cent. Of this, 70 per cent must be materially recycled, five per cent more than previously. As a result of the adjustment, more plastics will be used in high-quality recycling processes and less will be utilised in waste incineration plants.
Legislative procedure starts
The structured online consultation with the federal states and associations will run until 5 December 2025. The Federal Cabinet is expected to approve the draft in the first quarter of 2026, after which the Bundestag and Bundesrat will deal with the law.
Source: Federal Ministry for the Environment
