{"id":41302,"date":"2021-01-20T15:13:17","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T14:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=41302"},"modified":"2021-01-20T15:53:13","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T14:53:13","slug":"amendment-to-the-packaging-law-adopted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/novelle-des-verpackungsgesetzes-beschlossen\/","title":{"rendered":"Packaging Act: Federal Cabinet approves amendment"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Federal Cabinet today approved an amendment to the Packaging Act at the suggestion of Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze. The amendment must now be passed by the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.<\/p>\n

People who buy take-away food will have a choice in future: restaurants, bistros and caf\u00e9s will always have to offer reusable containers for to-go coffee and take-away food. In addition, the Mandatory deposit on all disposable plastic drinks bottles and cans from next year<\/strong> extended. Another change: PET drinks bottles must be made from at least 25 per cent recycled plastic from 2025.<\/p>\n

\"<\/strong>Takeaway food is part of everyday life for more and more people. The downside is a growing mountain of rubbish in many households. It doesn't have to stay that way. Disposable plastic is still the norm in many restaurants, snack bars and caf\u00e9s. My aim is for reusable boxes and reusable cups for on the go to become the new standard. We are therefore obliging the catering industry to offer reusable packaging in addition to disposable packaging in future. Consumers everywhere should be able to opt for reusable packaging. I am convinced that this will lead to many good solutions, including for delivery services. This is an important step towards stemming the flood of packaging in the to-go sector.\"<\/strong> Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

According to the Packaging Act, restaurants, bistros and caf\u00e9s that sell food to go or to-go drinks will be obliged from 2023 to pack their Products also in reusable packaging<\/strong> to offer. The reusable version must not be more expensive than the product in disposable packaging. In addition, appropriate reusable cups must be available for all sizes of to-go drinks.<\/p>

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For example, snack bars, late-night shops and kiosks with a total of five employees or fewer and a shop area of no more than 80 square metres are exempt from the obligation. However, they must allow customers to fill their own reusable containers.<\/p>\n

Exceptions no longer apply<\/h2>\n

From 2022, a deposit will also be mandatory on all disposable plastic drinks bottles. In addition, then all beverage cans with a deposit<\/strong> will be imposed. The amendment to the law ends the previous exemptions for certain drinks in plastic bottles and cans. Previously, carbonated fruit juice spritzers, for example, were subject to a deposit, whereas non-carbonated fruit juice was not.<\/p>