The Association of European Producers of Steel Packaging, whose members include Arcelor Packaging International, Corus Packaging Plus and Rasselstein Hoesch, has reiterated its own opposition to Germany’s one-way beverage packaging deposit.
APEAL’s ‘Mandatory deposit in Germany: 10 facts, 1 alternative’ publication claims the scheme has reduced the European beverage can and plastic bottle converting sector’s turnover by EUR1.2bn and threatens an estimated 10,000 jobs.
Highlighting 10 key areas of concern, it suggests that rather than striving for a 72% reuse level for beverage packaging, Germany should aim for a 90% combined reuse and recycling quota. Managing director Philippe Wolper says this formula, supported by experts, would ensure a good balance between recycling and reuse.
According to APEAL, 78.4% of German consumers report “no improvement whatsoever” since last October, the end of the so-called transition period by when the German government had hoped to have in place a national clearing system to deal with returned one-way packaging. A further 61.7% feel environmental pollution is “just as bad” as before the depositÕs inception.
APEAL says the deposit has also reduced consumer choice and made it “virtually impossible” for foreign drinks manufacturers to export to Germany.