Germany Packaging Act Implementation Details Announced!

On November 17, the German Federal Environment Ministry initiated a consultation process with federal states and associations regarding the "Packaging Act Implementation Guidelines" (VerpackDG). Any company that places packaging on the market will be required to make a financial contribution to reduce packaging waste. This is the goal of the new Packaging Act draft submitted by the Federal Environment Ministry (BMUKN) to federal states and relevant associations for feedback today. The draft also proposes increasing recycling quotas. Furthermore, in the future, commercial packaging producers and commercial packaging disposal agencies will need to obtain licenses.

Starting from August 2026,The new requirements of the EU packaging regulations will be implemented across the EU.The smooth integration of packaging regulations with German law, the current Packaging Act (VerpackG)It will be replaced by the new Packaging Act (VerpackDG). The existing relevant mechanisms in Germany will be retained and improved.

The core content of the draft law includes the following amendments:

All manufacturers and organizations are required to obtain a license.Previously, the German Packaging Act only stipulated a licensing procedure for dual systems (yellow waste bags, yellow waste bins) responsible for the collection and disposal of packaging waste.According to the packaging regulations, all organizations responsible for extended producer responsibility on behalf of multiple manufacturers must establish a licensing procedure. Manufacturers who are not members of such organizations must apply for licenses individually. The new regulations provide these organizations with a set of simplified automated processes. The licensing work is managed by the Central Packaging Registration Authority (ZSVR), which must also be jointly funded by these organizations. Previously, the funding for ZSVR came entirely from operators of dual systems and industry-specific solutions. Therefore, the EU has introduced supplementary regulations to regulate the funding sources of ZSVR.

Manufacturers are required to provide funding for preventive measures against packaging waste.EU PackagingRegulations require member states to ensure that specific stakeholders allocate a minimum share of their budgets for funding packaging waste prevention measures. According to the draft, a dual-track system, industry solutions, and other producer responsibility organizations, as well as manufacturers not affiliated with these organizations, must pay a fee of 5 euros per ton of packaging to a joint organization. This joint organization will use these funds to promote measures for reusable packaging and refilling, thereby helping to reduce packaging waste. Examples of such measures include providing startup funding for new reusable systems or conducting public awareness campaigns about the use of reusable packaging. This model is expected to make a significant contribution to preventing packaging waste.

Enhance recycling utilization.The new Packaging Act (VerpackDG) aims to increase the recycling quotas for plastics, aluminum, and black metals that must be met under the dual system. Starting in 2028, more packaging waste made from these materials must be recycled. The quotas for aluminum and black metals will each increase by 5%, reaching 95%. The quota for plastic waste will be adjusted in two ways: starting in 2028, a 75% recycling quota will replace the previous regeneration quota. Of this, 70% (an increase of 5% from before) must be achieved through mechanical recycling. This opens up new possibilities: the increased quotas can be met through mechanical recycling as well as other recycling processes. This initiative will further reduce the proportion of plastic incineration.

Consultations with the federal states and associations will be conducted through a structured online survey, with a deadline of December 5, 2025. This will help in the targeted evaluation of the feedback received.

The "Packaging Law Implementation Bill" is expected to receive approval from the federal cabinet in the first quarter of 2026. After that, the bill also needs to be passed by the federal house of representatives, and the federal senate will also be involved in this process.