The Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) has created the conditions for dual systems to grant their customers financial incentives for recycling-friendly design. On 1 September 2019, the Osnabrück-based institution published the first „Minimum standard for assessing the recyclability of packaging subject to system participation“.
The minimum standard provides the dual systems with a kind of benchmark with which they can Recycling-orientated design of packaging. The „Distributor“ of packaging that is subject to notification to the ZSVR and that has been found at a Dual system The company will then benefit from lower participation fees.
The minimum standard is based on Section 21 of the German Packaging Act, as the ZSVR announced. This obliges the systems to create financial incentives on the basis of the minimum standard if packaging can be recycled particularly well. In principle, this is always the case if composite materials are not used and various recyclable materials such as Plastic and Aluminium can be easily separated from each other. In the case of plastic, for example, the use of single-material plastic materials is honoured.
Information from two consultation procedures incorporated
The Minimum standard is to be updated annually. Prior to the publication of the document, the ZSVR had two Consultation procedure carried out. It had published drafts of the minimum standard and asked institutions and organisations affected by it to comment. The comments were analysed together with the Federal Environment Agency and incorporated into the current version.
Technical additions have been made for paper packaging in particular. Similarly Technical developments for packaging. The law provides for an annual revision. This ensures that the high level of innovation in this area is also adequately taken into account.
[infotext icon]„Packaging is a key issue for companies. Unfortunately, we are also seeing many counterproductive developments due to the ‚plastics debate‘. The minimum standard makes it clear that material mixtures in particular, which are currently on the rise, often have little to no recyclability. We hope that we can contribute to appropriate, ecological further development in this area.“
Gunda Rachut, Board of the ZSVR
Download minimum standard
The „Minimum standard for assessing the recyclability of packaging subject to system participation“ published on 1 September 2019 can be downloaded from the website of the ZSVR download.
[/infotext]Control through recycling quotas
For the Assessment of recyclability is ultimately not the responsibility of the ZSVR. Instead, this is carried out by the dual systems on the basis of the minimum standard. How successfully they have promoted recyclable packaging design through the incentive systems can be seen from the Recycling rates. This is because the systems must provide evidence of fulfilment of the specified recycling quotas for the packaging they collect every year. They must also report to the ZSVR once a year on how the requirements of the minimum standard have been implemented.
„Packaging whose recyclable materials are returned to the cycle through high-quality recycling and from which new products and packaging are created must be financially favoured. These financial incentives provide companies planning new filling lines with a high level of motivation to Product responsibility for packaging faster and more consistently.“
Gunda Rachut, Board of the ZSVR
Minimum criteria for good recyclability
The minimum standard now defines basic Minimum criteria on the recyclability of packaging. Above all, this includes the recyclable material content of packaging. This means that it should consist of materials that can be recycled. Recycling infrastructure exists. The recyclable materials contained should be sortable and separable. In addition, the packaging should not contain anything that prevents the successful recycling of other recyclable materials. Examples of this are when packaging contains non-water-soluble Adhesive applications and lead or barium in Glass packaging were used.
„The minimum standard also “evaluates" the Recyclable material content of packaging. This means that if materials such as glass, aluminium, certain plastic materials or fibres are contained in a form that can be recycled, this is viewed favourably. In the case of plastics, for example, the eponymous Main polymer recorded. The highest possible proportion of this substance - it could be polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), for example - is then rated as particularly recycling-friendly.
[infotext icon]Further news on the Packaging Act
If you would like to find out more about the Packaging Act and the Central Agency Packaging Register, these articles from our website will help you:
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