Dusseldorf Disposable packaging for food and drinks creates huge mountains of waste. According to the Federal Environment Ministry, around 320,000 disposable cups for hot drinks are used every hour in Germany alone, including up to 140,000 plastic-coated “coffee to go” cups. Disposable tableware and to-go packaging generated more than 346,000 tons of waste in 2017, according to the Society for Packaging Market Research.
From January 1st, restaurants, cafés, caterers, canteens, delivery services, supermarkets and petrol stations must also offer and take back reusable containers. All pre-packaged food and drinks for immediate consumption or to take away that are filled by the “final distributor” are affected.
This obligation applies to single-use beverage cups made from all materials and food boxes made from plastic. Aluminum trays or pure cardboard boxes for pizza or burgers are not included. The reusable alternative must not be more expensive than the product in the disposable packaging.
The changeover poses logistical challenges for catering establishments and food retailers. “The preparations are rather poor, despite the long lead time. The dirty dishes have to be taken back and cleaned. That’s not trivial,” says Barbara Metz, General Manager of the German Environmental Aid (DUH).
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Small shops such as snack bars and kiosks with a maximum of five employees and a sales area of no more than 80 square meters are therefore excluded. If desired, these must be filled with vessels brought by the customers. The amendment to the packaging law implements the EU directive for single-use plastic.
Packaging obligation 2023: patchwork of reusable systems
A reusable patchwork quilt is emerging when it comes into force. The DUH criticizes that many chains have developed their own systems, although there are established reusable dishes from providers such as Recup, Vytal and others. Isolated solutions made returns more difficult and made returnables unattractive. That’s why the environmental lobbyists are calling for a levy of at least 20 cents on disposable tableware.
The large grocers could not agree on a uniform offer. With Regood, the Edeka association now offers its around 3,500 independent retailers its own deposit system for out-of-home consumption. Reusable crockery for dishes and drinks from the hot counter, salad bar, bakery or catering establishment can be returned after use at participating Edeka and Marktkauf markets. The dealers then clean them.
Edeka competitor Rewe is also planning its own system. It is open to other selected providers, so far Lekkerland and Nahkauf have been partners. “Of course it is in our interest if other retailers participate in the reusable solution in the future, so that customers have as many return points as possible and reusable products are widely accepted,” says Rewe.
“In order to avoid single-use, you need systems that span companies and, ideally, cross-industry systems – similar to what has worked for decades with returnable glass bottles,” says Thomas Fischer, head of recycling management at DUH. Separate reusable systems force customers to hand in their used dishes in the same chain. This increases the chance that they will buy there again. If you only come by rarely, you are more likely to use one-way.
Up until now, 140,000 to-go cups have been thrown away every hour in Germany. Anyone who fills drinks in disposable cups must also offer reusable cups from January.
(Photo: imago/Winfried Rothermel)
McDonald’s also offers its own reusable cups for drinks and ice cream – for consumption on site and on the go. A deposit of two euros is required for each package. The fast-food chain is not currently planning to expand the reusable range to other dishes, because “a large number of adjustments to the processes in the restaurants are already necessary”.
In France, on the other hand, McDonald’s will also serve fries and burgers in recyclable hard plastic bowls from January. From 2023, fast food providers will be obliged to do so for on-site consumption.
Reusable deposit system: deposit or loan via app
Coffee retailer Tchibo also has its own returnable deposit system for coffee-to-go. The recyclable cup is available for a deposit of one euro. A return is only possible in the 900 Tchibo shops.
Other restaurateurs, on the other hand, rely on already established systems. From January, drinks, milkshakes and ice cream in reusable Recup cups can be ordered in all German Burger King restaurants against a deposit. The reusable cups and bowls are also used at Aral gas stations and the German Ikea branches. The containers can be handed in at over 16,500 distribution points.
“Returnables must be as convenient as possible,” emphasizes Burger King. However, the operational and financial effort involved in introducing a multiple-use deposit system should not be underestimated. All restaurants had to be equipped with dishwashers.
>> Read here: Reusable packaging stimulates the start-up scene – Recup wins Ikea as a customer
The Nordsee fish restaurant chain uses Relovo dishes without a deposit. The loan works via smartphone. The customer only pays a “climate fee” of ten euros per bowl and five euros per mug if they exceed the 14-day loan period.
Vytal’s reusable system works in a similar way. “It’s amazing the tailwind our business has experienced in recent months,” says co-founder Tim Breker. Over 3,500 gastro businesses such as bakeries and canteens from 14 DAX companies use Vytal.
Vytal’s digital reusable solution has a response rate of over 99 percent. The reusable tableware works via an app instead of a deposit.
(Photo: obs)
However, some catering establishments are circumventing the new obligations, criticizes Fischer from the DUH. “Every loophole is used to avoid reusables.” For example, Burger King has switched its previously coated salad boxes to 100 percent paper. No reusable containers are to be offered for this.
Instead of switching to reusable in general, system restaurateurs prefer to recycle single-use cups. Among other things, McDonald’s wants to establish a nationwide collection system with the Federal Association of System Gastronomy. A pilot project started in Fulda in autumn. Collection containers with the inscription “It’s your part” were set up in the pedestrian zone. The paper cups are to be made into recycled paper.
Reusable tableware in gastronomy: Exceptions for small branches of large chains?
However, some things about the new reusable offer should be confusing for customers. For example, the obligation does not apply to plastic containers that a third party fills with goods and delivers – for example, not to pre-packaged salads that supermarkets only sell. For their self-service salad bar, on the other hand, retailers must offer reusable containers.
It is also not entirely clear which providers fall under the exception. The DUH interprets the law in such a way that chains such as train station bakeries or cinemas must also offer reusable tableware. In the case of large companies, authorities assume that they can handle the financial and spatial challenges.
After a thorough examination of the factual and legal situation, the Eat Happy catering business comes to the conclusion that it falls under the exceptional criteria. The company, which has its headquarters in Cologne, produces fresh sushi in around 1,000 supermarket branches in Germany.
“In the Eat Happy shops, due to the small size of some only ten square meters and the low number of staff, it is usually not possible for dirty reusable containers to be stored and cleaned in the immediate vicinity of freshly prepared sushi,” says the company on request. The legislator did not want that either because of the hygiene requirements. From January, customers can have their products freshly filled in their own reusable containers on site.
In some cases, it should still be clarified which chains with small branches have to offer reusable packaging. The DUH wants to randomly check the implementation of the law from January. “As an association entitled to sue, we will investigate violations,” says General Manager Metz. There are fines of up to 10,000 euros.
More: Sustainable packaging – how the plastic flood can disappear