Bund Getränkeverpackungen der Zukunft (BGVZ) is an association of beverage producers, retailers, packaging and recycling companies. The majority of BGVZ's shareholders are operating on the market in Germany as well as in other European member states. In summary, we would like to comment as follows on the draft proposal of the EU Commission: 1. Deposit systems for beverage packaging (DRS) make a valuable contribution to the prevention of littering, sorted collection and high return and recycling rates. The systems already established or being set up in numerous Member States are a central component of a functioning high-quality circular economy. 2. Reuse quotas are not the right way forward. A general ecological advantage of reusable beverage containers compared to single-use beverage containers within a DRS is not proven by life cycle assessments. Instead, the ecological profile of beverage packaging depends on a variety of factors. Therefore, reuse quotas can lead to ecological rebound effects, e.g. due to a transport-related increase in CO2 emissions caused by long transport distances for heavy glass reusable containers. Additionally, reuse quotas lead to a significant price increase for beverages, jeopardise established beverage market structures, withdraw the producers choice of beverage packaging, and endanger existing deposit return systems. 3. To improve the ecological footprint of beverage packaging and to actually reduce negative effects of this packaging on people and the environment, legislators should rather focus on concepts that promote the ecological optimization of beverage packaging across systems. 4. The economic and ecological strength of the European beverage industry lies in the coexistence of reuse and single-use DRS. Future regulation should build on existing successful structures in various Member States. Standards achieved should not be jeopardised by disruptive interventions. For further information please find attached our written opinion. We are always available for questions or discussions.
Der Bund Getränkeverpackungen der Zukunft GbR (BGVZ) hält die von der EU-Kommission vorgeschlagenen Regelungen zu Deckeln bzw. Verschlüssen von Getränkeverpackungen als nicht zielführend und unverhältnismäßig.
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