Klaus Töpfer took a bold step with the introduction of extended product responsibility for packaging and established himself as a pioneer of the circular economy. The industry is now mourning the loss of the former Federal Environment Minister, who passed away on 8 June 2024 at the age of 85.
It was with great sadness that the team at the Green dot heard the news of Professor Klaus Töpfer's death last Saturday. „Even though I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to meet him in person, I am very touched by this sad news because I know how much our company in particular, but also the circular economy as a whole, owe to him,“ says Laurent Auguste, CEO of GreenDot.
„Someone thinks it up, someone produces it, someone sells it, someone consumes it - and nobody thinks about what's left over. But that's not how it works. Naturally, the idea of a circular economy called established market and business models into question - and the reaction was correspondingly strong. In the meantime, the circular economy has become an export hit. It creates new market segments and new competition. Today, everyone is fighting over this so-called „waste“. It has become a new business case“
so Klaus Töpfer 2015 at the presentation of the Dieter Berndt Award by the German Packaging Institute.
Professor Töpfer had a vision over 30 years ago and made an extremely courageous political decision. With the Introduction of extended product responsibility for packaging he launched a pioneering concept that now ensures that raw materials are recycled on a broad front, not only in Germany and for packaging, but throughout Europe and now in more and more countries and for a wide range of products. And that there are Stable, reliably financed systems exists. This is how Der Grüne Punkt came into being as the world's first dual system.
„Klaus Töpfer was a pioneer and many colleagues from the early days of our company have taken up this pioneering spirit and are carrying it into the future. In his spirit, we continue to work as pioneers to realise the goal of a circular economy.“
Laurent Auguste
Throughout his life, Professor Töpfer has Environmental protection and sustainability because he saw it as his political duty to leave behind an environment worth living in for future generations.
„We will always honour Klaus Töpfer's memory. Our thoughts are with his family,“ emphasises Laurent Auguste.
Also BDE-President Anja Siegesmund commented on the death of Dr Klaus Töpfer: „The BDE and its member companies mourn the loss of a committed and highly competent politician. Dr Klaus Töpfer was a committed campaigner for environmental and climate protection.“
„For the German waste management industry, the former Federal Environment Minister will be remembered as a pioneer of the circular economy, who helped initiate the Circular Economy Act in Germany and pushed through more recycling and the take-back of packaging with the Yellow Bag.“
„If our industry sees sustainability and the circular economy as a fundamental and decisive factor in its work today, this is not least thanks to Klaus Töpfer,“ recalls dvi-Thomas Reiner, Chairman of the Executive Board, remembers the groundbreaking work of the former minister. „With his laws, Klaus Töpfer has paved the way for Concept of product responsibility established and has become the initiator and pioneer of an active resource and recycling policy,“ says Reiner.
„It was no coincidence that we were the first to honour Klaus Töpfer with the newly created Dieter Berndt Prize. The prize honours protagonists who initiate, carry and support important and sustainable developments. Pioneers who take on responsibility for the benefit of society, who make packaging their theme and who have the good of the whole in mind in everything they do. I can also say from my personal conversations with Klaus Töpfer that he lived and realised this aspiration with conviction. You cannot honour a person more than by continuing his legacy. With this in mind, we mourn the loss of Prof Dr Klaus Töpfer, thank him once again for his lasting work and our thoughts are with his family, where the loss is most painful.“
Thomas Reiner
Source: The Green Dot, BDE, dvi
