At the beginning of 2024, significant changes to the Packaging Act will come into force, affecting the labeling and distribution of milk and dairy products. According to the Packaging Act, beverages offered in single-use plastic bottles with a volume of 0.1 to 3.0 liters will be subject to a deposit obligation starting from January 1, 2024, and integrated into the DPG's return and deposit system. A deposit of 25 cents will be charged on containers. This applies to products with a milk content of at least 50 percent, including cocoa, kefir, yogurt, and various coffee drinks.
This regulation is part of the ongoing process to promote a sustainable circular economy and reduce environmental impacts from packaging. The deposit obligation will help increase recycling rates and use resources more efficiently.
No transitional regulation for the transition
In contrast to previous years, the Packaging Act does not provide for a transitional regulation for the expansion of the deposit obligation. Packaging affected by this deposit obligation may only be sold to end consumers with a DPG deposit label. To facilitate the transition for businesses, a practical preparatory regulation has allowed for early registration of affected packaging in the DPG master database since March 2023.
Handling remaining stocks without DPG deposit labels
The date-based expansion of the deposit obligation poses challenges for companies in dealing with unlabeled remaining stocks. Efforts to create a nationally uniform transitional regulation are still ongoing. This means that the sale of unlabeled remaining stocks will be tolerated for a vaguely defined period. The DPG will continue to liaise with authorities to inform and raise awareness among all stakeholders about the challenges.