Germany's Verbände-Allianz (Reusable Alliance), which includes representative groups for the beverage trade, as well as environmental and recycling bodies, has called for the introduction of a levy on disposable bottles.
The group has also started a consumer campaign to promote the use of climate-friendly refillable bottles.
According to environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), market players like Aldi, Lidl, Nestlé and Pepsi are ignoring the 70% quota for climate-friendly reusable beverage packaging.
This has led the Verbände-Allianz to call on the federal government to introduce a levy on disposable plastic bottles and cans of at least 20 cents in addition to the existing levy on said products.
Climate Protection
The Verbände-Allianz is re-launching the information campaign 'Mehrweg ist Klimaschutz' (Reusable is Climate Protection) in the beverage sector, in order to encourage consumers to make environmentally-conscious drinks purchases.
Moreover, the group says that labelling should be improved so that customers can clearly distinguish between reusable and disposable packaging.
Members of the Verbände-Allianz include the DUH, the Mehrweg Initiative (SIM), the Federation of German Beverage Wholesalers (BVGFGH), the Association of the German Beverage Retailers (VDGE), the Association of Private Brewers Germany and the association Pro-Mehrweg.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Jana Zimmermann. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
