The law has also now expanded the mandatory deposit for beverage bottles and stipulates the future (higher) proportion of recycled plastic in PET beverage bottles. Parts of the industry welcome the strengthening of the circular economy.
The Association of Plastic Producers PlasticsEurope Germany (PED) and the Association of the Chemical Industry (VCI) support the measures to promote waste prevention and recycling management.
Plastics producers advocate more circular economy
PED Managing Director Ingemar Bühler assesses the changes positively: “Plastic packaging is often the method of choice for good reason. In order to further improve the handling of packaging waste, we have to keep plastics in the value chain. " The latest developments show that the recycling of plastic packaging waste has also been significantly improved. Bühler adds: “It is important to have a uniform approach throughout the EU. We must jointly pursue the goal of reducing the impact on the environment and promoting circular concepts that reduce the amount of waste. "
As an important step towards avoiding waste, the federal government wants reusable solutions in the to-go area. From January 1, 2023, suppliers of food and beverages are now obliged to offer their products in reusable packaging.
Bühler says: “There are already functioning reusable solutions for many applications, including those made of plastics. In these cases, it must be supported that the consumers have reusable options. ”The draft also includes an extension of the deposit requirement to include almost all single-use plastic beverage bottles (such as fruit juices). "In these areas deposit systems can make an important contribution to the recycling of plastic beverage bottles - and thus promote a circular economy with plastics," says Bühler.
More recyclates: also a goal of the plastics industry
In accordance with EU requirements, the German draft law also stipulates that certain one-way plastic beverage bottles made of PET will consist of at least 25 percent recycled material from 2025 (from 2030: 30 percent). The plastics industry is working to steadily increase the use of recyclates in new products. For the goals in the area of PET bottles, for example, it is doing important preliminary work through sustainable product design.
Chemical industry promotes recycling innovations
The promotion of recycling technologies is also an important success factor for the recycling of plastics. Plastics producers and chemistry, for example, are working together on the further development of chemical recycling in order - in addition to mechanical processes - to advance the circular economy.
That is why Wolfgang Große Entrup, General Manager of the VCI, demands: “The industry relies on innovation and technology-neutral recycling to conserve resources and protect the climate. This requires support through funding and recognition. In times of the corona pandemic, companies find it twice as difficult to invest in these areas. "
Plastics processors welcome the amendment, but are concerned about the availability of recycled materials
The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen eV welcomes the fact that the draft basically aims at a 1: 1 implementation of European specifications. The free exchange of - mostly packaged - goods in the EU internal market can only be ensured through uniform regulations for packaging throughout Europe. The IK also rates the strengthening of reusable options as positive, as long as this is based on ecological facts and advantages. Reusable plastic often replaces one-way solutions and can contribute to sustainable out-of-home consumption. The association is concerned about the availability of sufficient recycled PET.
