The EU is planning new guidelines for reusable bottles – do billions of beer bottles have to be destroyed? © Oleksandr Latkun/Imago (symbolic image)
A new EU regulation is intended to revolutionize the deposit system. Breweries fear that billions of beer bottles will have to be destroyed.
Munich – In some EU countries, a deposit on bottles must be paid, in others it is not. This is about to change: The EU is planning new regulations for packaging and deposits. Breweries are therefore sounding the alarm.
Do billions of beer bottles have to be destroyed?
A press release by the Federal Association of German Beverage Wholesalers (bv-gfgh) speaks of a "threat to German reusable systems". The problem is that beer bottles in circulation would probably have to be withdrawn from circulation with the new EU regulation so that the logo and serial number can be recreated. The bv-gfgh criticises the fact that "already established, successful reusable systems that have been functioning for decades are endangered in their existence by the planned regulations." A German beer caused a stir due to a "deceptive package".
The existing reusable systems in Germany were set up more than 70 years ago. According to the Federal Association, there are currently almost four billion returnable bottles in circulation, making the reusable share around 80 percent. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is now intended to turn this system upside down. Brewers' Association boss Holger Eichele is even clearer in an interview with Bild: "If the EU plans become reality, we would have to melt down all reusable bottles. This madness must be prevented." Beer crates are also to be abolished. The Spezi boss, on the other hand, demands a deposit of 10 euros for boxes.
Beer bottles affected by new EU regulation: Is the change in the reusable system economically justifiable?
From the point of view of the Federal Association and brewer boss Eichele, it cannot be understood that a uniform law is necessary just because some EU countries have not yet introduced a reusable system. A restructuring of the regulations "would be associated with billions of investments without offering any ecological added value," writes the Federal Association. The destruction of four billion reusable bottles is therefore uneconomical, because a large part of them could be used for many years to come. However, the EU directive clearly requires "permanently affixed labelling" on reusable packaging.
On German reusable packaging, on the other hand, "washable labels have always been used." With their considerable concerns, the associations of the beverage industry turned directly to the Members of the European Parliament. In doing so, they make it clear that the idea behind the PPWR is to be evaluated positively: "We expressly support the goal of promoting and strengthening reusable packaging because it strengthens climate protection. However, the existence of successfully existing systems must not be jeopardized."
