{"id":73049,"date":"2022-12-12T09:31:13","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T08:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=73049"},"modified":"2022-12-09T12:39:30","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T11:39:30","slug":"mandatory-reusable-packaging-changes-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/mehrwegpflicht-aenderungen-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything new with the reusable packaging obligation?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It has been a long time coming, but now it will come into force on 1 January 2023: the reusable packaging obligation. The aim of extending the law is to avoid single-use packaging in the long term, particularly in the catering sector. This cannot be achieved without changes.<\/strong><\/p>

2020 was a remarkable year in many respects - including in the packaging industry. One consequence of the pandemic: a clear increase in delivery and takeaway orders in German households and, as a result, a noticeable increase in the packaging required for this. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 78 kilograms of packaging waste was generated per household in the first year of coronavirus<\/strong> and thus on average six kilograms more than in the previous year.<\/p>

The largest increase (three kilograms more per capita) was achieved by Packaging made of paper, cardboard and paperboard<\/strong> which is likely due not least to the e-commerce trend fuelled by the pandemic. Overall, however, at 32 kilograms per person, lightweight packaging - i.e. packaging made from plastics, light metals and composite materials - is far ahead. This also includes disposable packaging for food and beverages<\/strong>.<\/p>

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When the Bundestag passed an amendment to the Packaging Act on 6 May 2021, which has been in force since 2019, this decision was not made in a vacuum. The legislator saw a need for action and prepared several steps to Reduce the proportion of single-use packaging in the waste stream in the long term<\/strong>.<\/p>

One of these steps will now come into force on 1 January 2023. From then on, caterers, delivery services and restaurants will be obliged to use disposable also offer reusable containers for food and drinks to take away or order<\/strong>. For smaller businesses with a small number of employees and limited sales and storage space, the exception should apply that they should allow their customers to take their own containers with them and clearly label this.<\/p>