Germany counts on voluntary agreements in the run up to the EU plastics ban

By 2030, all plastic packaging used within the EU must be recyclable or reusable. These are the regulations stated by the European Commission in the plastics strategy that was passed in January 2018. In addition, the strategy aims to reduce the use of single-use packaging and restrict the use of microplastics.

When it comes to packaging, German politics relies on a mixture of legal regulations and voluntary agreements. After the Federal Environment Agency presented a five-point-plan for less plastics and more recycling in November, Federal Minister for the Environment Svenja Schulze met with trade representatives and manufacturers as well as environmental groups and consumer protection bodies for a round table meeting in February 2019.

In no uncertain terms, Schulze urged trade and manufacturers to offer an even more extensive range of alternatives such as reusable packaging, mesh and bottles as well as refill packs, which are already visible in stores.

According to the minister, forecasts expect plastic cutlery, plates, straws, cotton buds, stirrers and balloon sticks to be banned in the EU from mid-2021 onwards, as will food and beverage packaging made of expanded polystyrene (EPS). Schulze therefore expects that the companies involved will voluntarily implement this ban at an earlier date. The ministry’s next stage proposes a series of agreements for autumn 2019 in order to meet the regulations stated in the Packaging Law which took effect in 2019.

The plastics industry welcomes the mutual dialogue on unnecessary packaging waste. If it is possible to avoid packaging, packaging should be avoided. At the same time, industry representatives in the German Association for Plastics Packaging and Films (IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V.) point out that we need to take a differentiated view on plastics and their use with regard to ecological and economical factors. Emotions often run high in discussions and objective arguments on energy input and carbon dioxide emissions are often disregarded. And in the end, generally dispensing with plastics is not necessarily reasonable from an overall ecological point of view. According to the German Association for Plastics Packaging and Films, it makes more sense to compare the use of packaging in individual cases to parameters such as product waste, more frequent deliveries and more cooling.

In autumn 2018, plastics packaging companies agreed on internal voluntary objectives for the industry. By 2025, they expect to raise the share of recyclable and reusable packaging from 75 to 90 percent. In addition, they expect the amount of recyclates used to increase by 150 percent to a total of one million tons.

Since the Packaging Law has taken effect, the plastics industry has continuously improved their products’ material efficiency, meaning today, plastic packaging is around 25 percent lighter on average. Improved packaging characteristics such as being able to reseal or portion them ensures that food is not only protected, but additionally, less of it is wasted.

Only a functioning recycling economy can create promising solutions for our waste problem. This requires strong innovation processes for powerful, sustainable packaging solutions that require less resources and are even easier to recycle.