{"id":82063,"date":"2023-06-23T13:59:51","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T11:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=82063"},"modified":"2023-06-23T13:59:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T11:59:51","slug":"guide-to-single-use-plastic-packaging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/leitfaden-zu-einweg-kunststoffverpackungen\/","title":{"rendered":"Disposable or reusable: guidelines provide clarity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Under what conditions does packaging fall under the legal requirements for single-use plastic food packaging? In view of the uncertainties surrounding this issue, several associations have published guidelines to provide clarity.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Since the beginning of the year, final distributors of certain single-use food packaging containing plastic have been obliged to offer reusable packaging. From 2024, the manufacturers and distributors of this packaging are also required to pay a special levy to the Federal Environment Agency in addition to the licence fee<\/strong>. In view of the uncertainties as to which food packaging is covered by the regulations, the associations of the food service industry (BdS), the food industry (BVE) and the manufacturers of plastic packaging (IK) have developed a Guide<\/a> which explains the conditions under which single-use plastic food packaging is deemed to be disposable in the legal sense.<\/p>

The unclear criteria for the definition of \u201esingle-use plastic food packaging\u201c in the Packaging Act and the Single-Use Plastic Fund Act cause considerable difficulties in business practice and enforcement. Markus Suchert, Managing Director of the Bundesverband der Systemgastronomie e.V. (BdS), explains that up to now there is no clear demarcation either at EU level or in Germany<\/strong>, which packaging is covered. \u201eThe fact that some attempts are being made to extend the requirements beyond the wording of the directive and the law adds to the uncertainty. These guidelines and, in particular, the decision trees will make it easier for companies and authorities to carry out difficult checks,\u201c Suchert hopes.<\/p>

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On behalf of the food industry, Peter Feller, Deputy Managing Director of the Federation of German Food and Drink Industries, points this out, that only certain plastic food containers are affected by the legal requirements<\/strong>\u201eThe packaged food must in particular be intended for immediate consumption. According to the express wording of the law, it is not sufficient if the food is only suitable for immediate consumption, as is sometimes claimed,\u201c emphasises Feller and sees the application mainly in the take-away sector<\/strong>.<\/p>

Dr Martin Engelmann, Managing Director of the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen, explains that there is no insignificance threshold for the proportion of plastic, i.e. that packaging with a plastic coating or lining is also affected<\/strong>. He also points out contradictions: \u201eAccording to the Packaging Act, only filled packaging is \u201apackaging\u2018 within the meaning of the law. According to the Single-Use Plastics Fund Act, however, empty food containers, for example, should also be covered, while empty bag and film packaging are excluded. These contradictions add to the uncertainty,\u201c criticises Engelmann.<\/p>

Source:<\/em> IK<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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IK - More news<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPPWR guidelines bring clarity and criticism\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tAssociations see progress, but call for additional clarifications before the regulation comes into force in August 2026.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWsK survey: Germany as a business location needs a reform push\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tCompanies in the plastics value chain see the German location at risk in an international comparison, but are nevertheless prepared to invest.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRecycling rates in Europe: Germany continues to lead the way\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tEurostat reports rising plastic recycling rates in the EU - Germany remains above average at 52 per cent. However, some member states are in danger of falling well short of the EU target for 2025.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWhat is the mood in the industry?\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tThe European packaging world is meeting again in Nuremberg for Fachpack. How do the industry associations assess the current economic situation, what worries their member companies and are there any rays of hope?\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPackaging industry looks ahead to possible UN plastics agreement\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tFrom 5 to 14 August, more than 170 countries are negotiating a legally binding global agreement to combat plastic pollution in Geneva. The agreement could also have far-reaching consequences for manufacturers and processors of plastic packaging in Germany. Industry associations such as IK, GKV and Plastics Europe are calling for international standards, but warn against overly rigid production restrictions.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCautiously optimistic: slight recovery for plastic packaging\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tManufacturers of plastic packaging and films in Germany expect their situation to stabilise cautiously in the third quarter of 2025. This is shown by the latest economic survey by the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen. After a weak start to the year, industry sentiment is improving - but the challenges remain great.\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead more \"\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Under what conditions does packaging fall under the legal requirements for single-use plastic food packaging? In view of the uncertainties surrounding this issue, several associations have published guidelines to provide clarity.","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":82069,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"__cvm_playback_settings":[],"__cvm_video_id":"","rank_math_description":"Wann f\u00e4llt einen Verpackung unter die gesetzlichen Vorgaben f\u00fcr Einweg-Kunststoff-Lebensmittelverpackungen? Das erkl\u00e4rt jetzt ein Leitfaden.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Leitfaden","rank_math_title":"","csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[60123,57582,54,31,32],"class_list":{"0":"post-82063","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-packmittel-und-packstoffe","8":"tag-bve","9":"tag-ik-industrievereinigung-kunststoffverpackungen","10":"tag-kunststoff-und-verbunde","11":"tag-nachhaltigkeit-und-green-packaging","12":"tag-packmittel-und-packstoffe","13":"cs-entry","14":"cs-video-wrap"},"acf":[],"vimeo_video":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82063\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}