The recycling of raw materials in packaging depends on their recyclability. In order to increase this, the reform of § 21 of the German Packaging Act is to be launched in the fall of 2024. The basic principle: a financial surcharge for placing poorly recyclable packaging on the German market. The surcharges are to be paid into a fund that will benefit companies that market highly recyclable packaging or use a high proportion of recycled materials.

Apparently, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment now wants to base this fund at the Central Packaging Registry (Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister – ZSVR), as reported by the EUWID specialist information service. It could handle the collection, administration and distribution of the fund's resources in a competition-neutral manner.

The economic sectors affected do not agree with this proposal. The Alliance Packaging and Environment e. V. (AVU), for example, warns against the creation of new state and bureaucratic structures around the planned fund and proposes as an efficient and cost-effective solution to have the collection of the surcharges carried out by the dual systems, which are responsible for the collection and recycling of used packaging in Germany. In a letter to Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, the Federation of the German Waste, Water and Circular Economy Industry (BDE) also advocates a practical and cost-efficient collection of funds via the dual systems, which have presented comprehensive concepts for this in the last two years.

One thing is certain, however: an amended § 21 VerpackG will place higher demands on the recyclability of packaging. Against this background, the assessment of the recyclability of your packaging is becoming increasingly important. We would be happy to support you in evaluating your packaging.