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Greenpeace takes action against reusable packaging offences

Since 1 January 2023, reusable containers have been mandatory in Germany. However, not all catering establishments offer reusable containers. To combat this, Greenpeace set up a website on 29 March where violations of the reusable container obligation can be reported.

Since 1 January 2023, reusable containers have been mandatory in Germany. However, not all catering establishments offer reusable containers. To combat this, Greenpeace set up a website on 29 March where violations of the reusable container obligation can be reported.

Greenpeace starts today a reporting portal, which can now be used to report violations of the legal obligation to offer reusable plastic packaging directly to the responsible state authorities. Research carried out by the NGO in January revealed that, that around half (52 per cent) of 687 catering establishments randomly tested did not offer any reusable alternatives for takeaway food and drinks. In doing so, they violated the corresponding obligation that has applied to them since the beginning of the year.

The portal provides various reasons for reporting. (Screenshot)

„With the reporting portal, Greenpeace is taking action against the ignorance of the take-away sector so that the legal obligation to offer reusable food is finally implemented. A quarter of a year after the law came into force, the responsible authorities are still largely inactive, We can no longer accept this. Finite resources such as oil and gas must no longer be wasted on disposable packaging,“ says Viola Wohlgemuth, resource conservation expert at Greenpeace.

Reusable packaging is bypassed

Fast food chains and delivery services stood out particularly negatively in the Greenpeace research. If a catering establishment violates the reusable packaging obligation and is reported, the authorities are responsible for dealing with the reported offence. A violation of the law can be penalised with a fine of up to 10,000 euros.

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Greenpeace sees the obligation to offer reusable alternatives to single-use plastic packaging as just the first step. In its current form, it cannot sufficiently prevent raw materials from being wasted and waste from single-use packaging from increasing: Numerous take-away businesses are already replacing the plastic in their disposable packaging with other materials and thus circumvent the law. According to the Berlin Consumer Advice Centre, 770 tonnes of packaging waste are generated every day in Germany from takeaway packaging for food and drinks. 

What we need from Steffi Lemke is an efficient and comprehensive reusable packaging obligation for all single-use packaging instead of a nicely intended reusable offer. The single-use era must finally come to an end.
Viola Wohlgemuth
Expert for resource protection, Greenpeace

Greenpeace believes that a ban on all single-use packaging is urgently needed to achieve Germany's resource conservation targets. According to the World Resources Council, the extraction and processing of resources is already responsible for around half of all global greenhouse gas emissions and 90 per cent of species extinction. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) announced that Germany's consumption of raw materials is to be significantly reduced through a strategy for a circular economy.

Source: Greenpeace

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