The often emotionally charged discussions about non-returnable PET bottles don't stop, according to IK Managing Director Dr Isabell Schmidt.
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IK: The reusable dogma of beverage bottles is no longer up to date
Most recently, these were rekindled by the publication of the current reusable quota by the Federal Environment Agency . The one-way-reusable discussion is unfortunately shaped by old prejudices, Schmidt added. Many of the claims that reusable proponents still make today are long out of date. On the basis of outdated data, however, a reusable rate of 70 per cent is still being fought for.
“Right of way for reusable” is the motto. It goes without saying that reusable bottles are ecologically better than one-way bottles. "However, this generalised statement no longer holds up to today's knowledge," Schmidt continued. "Whether disposable or reusable – it is crucial that beverage bottles are subject to a deposit in Germany and that material cycles are closed.
“There are no universal packaging solutions. The decisive factors are the respective use and consumption situation, the preference of consumers and ecological assessments. Material requirements, energy consumption in production and recycling, the proportion of recycled materials and much more all play a role in the life cycle assessment.”
With this, the PET Forum joins the attitude of the basic paper on beverage packaging for non-alcoholic beverages from August this year: “From our point of view, a conflict of packaging systems is not expedient for consumers, retailers and manufacturers, or for the climate and the environment. Rather, we should continue to expand the successful "deposit" model and leave outdated reusable claims behind. "
For the PET Forum, the future lies in the recycling of bottles and materials as well as an increased use of recyclates. "If we use the packaging types and systems precisely and do our homework, then everyone wins: consumers, retailers, manufacturers and the climate."