Newsletter "UBA aktuell" - No.: 1/2023 | Umweltbundesamt

Combating the flood of waste: new right to “reusable packaging to go” and planned levy on single-use plastic

Replacing single-use to-go packaging with reusable packaging cuts waste and saves resources. Source: FotoHelin / Adobe Stock

Whether it's a “coffee to go” in a café or sushi in a fast food restaurant, since 1 January 2023 customers in Germany have a choice: they must be offered food and beverages for immediate consumption on the premises or to take away in reusable packaging instead of single-use packaging at no extra charge or at most against a deposit. When it comes to food, the requirement to offer a reusable alternative applies to all packaging that is made entirely or partly of plastic. For beverages, it applies to all single-use cups, – regardless of the material. The obligation applies to all packaging that is filled on site by the business. Very small businesses with no more than five employees and a sales area of no more than 80 square metres, such as snack bars and kiosks, can also fulfil their obligation by offering to fill containers brought in by customers.

A major step on the journey away from a throwaway society. Shortcomings remain, however: single-use packaging can still be dispensed at no extra charge and is often more convenient for customers as it does not have to be returned. Comprehensive take-back systems, in which reusable containers can be returned at virtually every corner, are not yet widespread everywhere. Furthermore, single-use packaging that does not contain plastic, such as pizza boxes, is currently still exempt from the new regulation.

A further boost for reusable products could come from the introduction of compulsory levies on some single-use products that are made entirely or partly of plastic (e.g. coatings), foreseen for 2024: According to EU regulations that must also be implemented in Germany, manufacturers of cups for beverages and other single-use products containing plastic will then have to pay for collecting them from streets and parks and for disposing of them. Up to now, cities and municipalities in particular have been saddled with these costs of approximately €434 million per year. German Environment Agency President Dirk Messner: "We expect the new levy on single-use plastics to finally put a stop to littering of the environment and that manufacturers and retailers will offer significantly more reusable products, especially for popular to-go packaging. Consumers can also help by insisting on reusable packaging and stop discarding cigarette butts and other plastic waste in the landscape.”

CO₂ pricing should and can prevent social inequality

Ambitious CO₂ pricing of fuels and heating materials by means of emissions trading is a key lever for achieving the statutory climate targets in the building and transport sectors. However, it is important to ensure that this does not lead to social hardship. A recent study by the German Environment Agency (UBA) reveals how this is possible. read more (in German)

Local authority survey “Climate Change Mitigation in Local Authorities 2023”

What climate change mitigation measures are local authorities implementing? How many climate change managers are there currently in Germany? What climate change mitigation targets do local authorities set themselves? How many local authorities are aware of their greenhouse gas emissions? We want to answer these and other questions with the local authority survey “Climate Change Mitigation in Local Authorities 2023”. read more (in German)

Climate change mitigation as a transformation task

Climate change mitigation will only succeed if politics, society and business set the right course. It is a task for society as a whole and potential pitfalls in realising climate change mitigation must be taken into account. In its latest paper, the German Environment Agency has outlined and evaluated how this can be done and identified the best approaches to tackling this major transformation task. read more (in German)

Parameters for the Climate Change Mitigation Projection Report 2023

Will Germany’s climate goals be achieved under the current climate change policy? The UBA is currently coordinating the generation of projections in order to address this question. This will allow gaps in climate policy to be identified at an early stage and remedial action to be taken in good time. For the 2023 Projection Report, the UBA has for the first time published in advance the now defined parameters that will be used for the modelling. read more (in German)

Policy recommendations for energy conservation

Energy is still scarce, meaning energy prices remain high and are a burden on household budgets. The German Environment Agency recommends that the Federal Government provide a framework that makes it easier for people to reduce their consumption of heating and electricity. This would also be beneficial for the climate. As a rule, the recommended measures would require only small investments. read more (in German)

RE:DESIGN EFFICIENCY creative competition on energy efficiency

The RE:DESIGN EFFICIENCY creative competition is looking for photographs, graphics or illustrations that make the invisible – unconsumed kilowatt hours – visible. This is because greater energy efficiency and an end to energy waste are essential if we are to achieve a successful energy transition and meet our climate targets. Enter by 31 March 2023 and make a creative contribution to ⁠protecting the climate!⁠ read more (in German)

More green electricity and more renewable heat in 2022

Sunny weather ensured strong growth in electricity generation from solar panels in 2022. The installation of heat pumps and solar thermal is picking up speed. However, there is still little momentum in the development of wind power. The expansion of renewables in Germany must be significantly stepped up if the targets of the Renewable Energy Sources Act are to be achieved. read more (in German)

Collaborative planning for a healthy city

Health concerns are not given sufficient consideration in environment-related planning processes. This is in part due to the lack of cooperation between the planners and stakeholders from the healthcare sector. The technical brochure “Collaborative planning for a healthy city” makes recommendations on how health concerns can be addressed in cities. read more (in German)

Reducing pollutants in construction with EU-standardised test procedures

Reducing pollutants in and from buildings and other structures is one of the priorities of the European Union's Zero Pollution Action Plan. The project “Methods and Criteria for Assessing the Ecotoxicity of Products”, commissioned by the UBA, identifies the building products for which there is a need for action and potential for minimising pollutants as well as which test methods are suitable. read more (in German)

ChemInfo provides more information about taurine

In autumn 2022, the entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz died at the age of 78. His name is closely associated with the emergence of a chemical that can now be found in numerous energy drinks and other everyday products: taurine. While the substance initially attracted only limited legal attention, there are now regulations governing the addition of taurine to various products. read more (in German)

Speed limits could cut greenhouse gases more than previously thought

According to new calculations commissioned by the UBA, the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting speed limits is significantly higher than previously assumed. A speed limit of 120 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on roads outside built-up areas could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from German road traffic by a full 5%. This corresponds to 8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per year. read more (in German)

Energy consumption of electric cars: making tests more realistic

The fuel consumption figures given by car manufacturers for their vehicles often do not reflect reality. A UBA study has shown that this is also the case with electric vehicles. The study concludes that the energy consumption of heating and air-conditioning systems will have to be included to a much greater extent in the official WLTP test procedure in future if realistic data on consumption and range are to be obtained. read more (in German)

More acceptance for e-cars, car sharing and car pooling

How can people who predominantly or exclusively use a private, conventional car for their everyday transport needs be convinced to use electric cars, car sharing or car pooling instead? This question was explored in a research project commissioned by the German Environment Agency. read more (in German)

Timber can be stockpiled using 90% less energy

Around 90% of the energy used in the storage and commissioning of solid structural timber and glulam can be saved. This is what has been demonstrated by the first large-scale use of a fully automatic, electrically operated crane and suction system, which was funded by the Environmental Innovation Programme and installed at the timber wholesaler Karl Ahmerkamp Vechta GmbH & Co. KG. read more (in German)

Brewery reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 24% with innovative technology

By taking a holistic view and optimising process heat generation, refrigeration, wastewater treatment and control, measurement and regulation technology, the Karmelitenbrauerei Karl Sturm GmbH & Co KG in Straubing, Bavaria, succeeded in reducing climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions by almost a quarter. The project was supported by the German Environment Agency within the bounds of its Environmental Innovation Programme. read more (in German)

EU Packaging Regulation: thinking in cycles from the outset

With its draft packaging regulation, the EU Commission has presented a regulatory proposal to reduce the environmental impact of packaging, with the measures it contains covering the entire life cycle. The UBA welcomes the focus on waste prevention and reusability as well as recyclability and the use of recycled plastics. However, the required standards fall short of expectations in some places. read more (in German)

Recyclable materials from sewage sludge: implementing the Sewage Sludge Ordinance

After the introduction of the Sewage Sludge Ordinance in 2017, a number of questions arose about phosphate recycling, such as the potential for the recovery of nutrients from sewage sludge, which the new regulations did not adequately address. A study conducted by the UBA answers these questions and provides information on analytical methods and intervals for sewage sludge testing. read more (in German)

#UBAgreenweek

Promoting plant-based nutrition through a VAT exemption for plant-based staple foods or incentives to reduce food waste – the UBA has compiled proposals for measures and information to make agriculture and nutrition more environmentally friendly to mark the “Green Week” agricultural trade fair. read more (in German)

251 entries in the GRÜNSTRICH environmental art competition

“Our blue planet urgently needs an "update"! There are many events that are showing us that we have already wasted far too much time.” More than 250 youngsters and young adults between 10 and 25 years of age packaged these and many other impressive appeals into works of art that they submitted to the painting and drawing competition. read more (in German)

Bisphenols can have a detrimental effect on hormonal levels and therefore on human health and organisms in the environment, even at low concentrations. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been detected in 100% of the adults tested in Europe, and bisphenol F and bisphenol S in 50% of test subjects.