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BMUKN presents draft for updating the German Packaging Act

The Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN) has published the draft bill for a new Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG).

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The Federal Ministry for the Environment (Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit,BMUKN) has published the draft bill for a new Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG). This act is intended to replace the current Packaging Act (VerpackG) as of August 12, 2026, aligning German law with the European Packaging Regulation.

 

The two core objectives of the draft are to prevent packaging waste and optimize recycling. 

 

 Important changes and new requirements:

 

  • Expansion of licensing requirements: Introduction of a licensing requirement for all manufacturers and organizations at the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR). Organizations that dispose of commercial packaging also require a license from the ZSVR. Those who do not join an organization must apply for an individual license. 
  • Increased recycling rates from 2028: A recycling rate of 75% will apply to plastic packaging, rising to 80% from 2023. At least 70% (75% from 2030) of this must be achieved through material recycling. The rest, the remaining 5%, may be processed for the first time using alternative methods such as chemical recycling.
  • Establishment of a new organization: for waste prevention and the promotion of reusable packaging, financed by a levy of €5 per ton of packaging material on all manufacturers. An Euwid article mentions ongoing compliance costs of approximately €89.6 million. This money is to go directly to the ZSVR, which will then pass it on. 
  • No adjustment of Section 21 of the Packaging Act. The draft bill for the Packaging Implementation Act (Verpack-DG) does not contain any changes to Section 21, which has remained without practical effect since 2019. The section was originally intended to create incentives for the use of more environmentally friendly packaging but has so far had no such effect. 

 

The consultation period still runs until December 5, 2025. The draft bill is to be adopted by the Federal Cabinet in the first quarter of 2026 and then forwarded to the Bundestag and Bundesrat.

 

Submissions can be made via EUSurvey. The full draft in German is available on the BMUKN website.

 

Der Grüne Punkt offers practice-oriented seminars to help companies prepare at an early stage. Click here for our event overview.  

 

Image: WilliamCh / Pixabay

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