From 2023 in Germany, fast food restaurants, bakeries, bistros and cafés that sell takeaway food (To go) will have to offer their products in single-use and reusable packaging. According to data from the federal government, 770 tons of packaging waste are generated every day in Germany from single-use takeaway packaging alone. The new regulation aims to change that.

The reusable option must not be more expensive than products in single-use packaging. In addition, suitable reusable cups must be available for all takeaway drink sizes, and reusable packaging must not be offered under worse conditions than single-use packaging.

Reusable packaging may only be issued with a deposit that is refunded upon return.

The new obligation to offer reusable packaging under the Packaging Act is intended for all “final distributors” who place single-use plastic food packaging and single-use cups on the market, regardless of the material they are made from. Final distributors are those who sell to-go packaging filled with food or drinks to consumers, that is, most often catering establishments such as restaurants, cafés, bistros, but also canteens, gas stations and catering companies.

Smaller shops such as snack bars, late-night shops and kiosks that employ a total of five people or fewer and whose sales area does not exceed 80 square meters are exempt from the obligation. However, these companies must allow their customers to have reusable containers filled.

Chains, such as bakeries at railway stations, cannot use the exception for small businesses. The sales area of an individual point of sale may be smaller than 80 square meters. But if more than five employees work in the entire company, the exception does not apply to them.

Source: fenix-magazin.de