A nouvelle in the Packaging Act has already come into force this year. This means that, in addition to other measures, a reusability obligation for food and beverages in takeaways will apply in Germany from 1.1.2023.
What does the reusability obligation mean for the catering industry?
All providers who offer food and beverages to go or take-away in disposable plastic packaging or disposable cups must offer their customers a corresponding reusable solution as an alternative from 1 January 2023. The customer can then choose between disposable and reusable packaging. The return of the issued reusable containers must be given by the provider.
To whom does the new reusability obligation apply?
The reusability obligation applies to all providers (e.g. restaurants, snack bars, delivery services, but also retailers) who offer food and beverages to go or take-away in disposable plastic packaging or disposable cups. Exceptions from the obligation to use reusable packaging are small individual businesses (no chains) with an area of <80 square metres and a maximum of 5 employees.
Advantages and disadvantages of reusable systems?
As a supplier covered by the reusable obligation, you must choose one of the above-mentioned reusable solutions. Tip: Find out about the advantages and disadvantages of these solutions early on.
- What risk do I take if the trays and cups don't come back
- Pool systems like Relevo control your stock and send new trays automatically
- What handling effort is involved in issuing deposits and taking back deposits, e.g. for containers borrowed elsewhere
- What material are the returnable containers made of and how durable / attractive are they
- Do I generally want to pay a basic fee or do I only pay if the container is also used (pay-per-use)
- Can I try it out first with a starter set, for example from Relevo
- What if I take back more deposit cups or bowls than I give out
- Do I have returning customers (canteen, campus, cafeteria, ...) or walk-in customers
- How do my guests understand the reusable system
- What marketing advantage can I derive from a reusable offer
What are the exceptions to the reusable system?
Exceptions to the reusable system apply to small individual businesses (no chains) <80 square metres in area and with a maximum of 5 employees. In these cases, however, containers brought in by the employees themselves must be filled and the hygiene measures for containers brought in must be observed.
Food in purely natural packaging that does not contain any disposable plastic (even as a coating or similar) theoretically also exempts from the reusability requirement, as does the use of plastic-free plates, bags, wrapping paper, etc.
Pre-packaged food from the refrigerated or heated display case is also exempt from the reusable obligation.
Where can I find more information?
A good overview of all providers and forms of supply can be found on the page "Meals in reusable containers". Hygiene guidelines on how to fill containers brought by guests are available for download from the German Food Association.
