What is the bail system in Germany and how does it work? Interzero in Berlin
What is the bail system in Germany and how does it work? Interzero in Berlin
The deposit system in Germany, known as 'Pfand' or 'Pfandsystem', is a well-developed and widely used system that aims to encourage consumer recycling and reduce packaging waste. For single-use bottles, the deposit amount is 25 euro cents. The deposit price for reusable bottles is set by the manufacturer and ranges from 8 to 25 euro cents.
The entire deposit system covers up to 18 billion packages per year, of which 95% are handled by bottle machines and 5% by a bag system.
On 24 August, together with employees from the Eurocash Group, we travelled to Germany to look at the bail system in practice. Together, we visited shops with both bagged and automatic collection systems. We also visited the Interzero Conversion Centre, where waste is sorted into the appropriate fractions.
Thanks to the trip, we were able to see with our own eyes how retail chains deal with German legislation. We were able to exchange experiences with our partners and learn more about the procedures taking place in the units visited.
The bail system will soon come into effect in Poland. As Interzero, we strive to learn as much as possible about the needs of the industry. We refine our offering, analyse the successes of others and explore opportunities for development. We believe that together we will be able to meet the legal challenges and create a system as efficient as that of our western neighbours.
Benefit from our experience and create a bail system together with us. We will provide you with solutions to facilitate waste collection and logistics and take over reporting obligations. More information HERE and HERE.
Eco-design or eco-saving? How can packaging design help entrepreneurs? Made4Circle service
Eco-design or eco-saving? How can packaging design help entrepreneurs?
The European Union is moving towards stricter and stricter regulations for packaging put on the market. Its aim is to transform the linear economy into a circular economy, aiming to reducing the amount of waste produced.
To help companies adapt to upcoming regulatory changes that will favour recyclable packaging, Interzero has introduced an eco-design support programme called Made4Circle.
What is the M4C?
This modular solution for companies of all sizes interested in developing sustainable and recyclable packaging. Drawing on the expertise of packaging recycling experts, we offer support in creating packaging with minimal environmental impact that simultaneously meets legal requirements and meets the needs of the product's consumers. The Made4Circle service consists of 4 main stages that take into account all manufacturers' business needs: preliminary analysis, detailed analysis, solution design and impact assessment.
We encourage you to read the press release about our service HERE
Read more about Made4Circle on our subpage HERE
Publication of the law transposing the SUP Directive
Publication of the law transposing the SUP Directive
A week ago, On 9 May 2023, a law was published implementing the provisions of the SUP (Single Use Plastics) Directive, which means that the legislation will soon enter into force.
The regulations mainly focus on imposing restrictions and requirements on the marketing and use of single-use products made of plastics, and on the separate collection of waste from these products, and introduce obligations:
- The labelling of certain products with symbols used, for example, on cups containing plastics.
- Impose new types of charges, specific to plastic products, such as an end-user charge per unit of packaging, a charge for collection, cleaning and transport, and a charge for public education campaigns.
- For beverage cups and food containers, the provision of alternative reusable packaging or packaging made of materials other than plastic from 1 July 2024.
- The use of recycled plastics in bottles.
- Achieve minimum collection rates for beverage packaging waste in the form of single-use plastic bottles of up to 3 litres,
- Reporting of all activities through the BDO system.
The full text of the law is available HERE
Do you already know all about product levy and extended producer responsibility?
Do you already know all about product levy and extended producer responsibility?
Product charge is a type of environmental fee that must be paid by entrepreneurs who place products, packaging, oils, tyres, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and accumulators on the market. The purpose of this fee is to ensure proper handling of packaging waste in accordance with the Waste Act and to encourage entrepreneurs to reduce the amount of packaging produced.
If you would like to learn more about this obligation, we encourage you to watch the training course "Does the product levy apply to your company?" at Interzero Academy!
During the training you will learn:
- What is a product charge,
- What is Extended Producer Responsibility,
- You will learn about the requirements for entrepreneurs related to the ROP.
Watch the training HERE
Do you know what environmental responsibilities apply to you?
Do you know what environmental responsibilities apply to you?
The running of any business always involves responsibilities on the part of the entrepreneur. In fact, they concern various areas of life, including environmental protection.
If you would like to brush up on your knowledge of the subject, attend a training course entitled 'The importance of the topic'. "Environmental protection: what obligations entrepreneurs have". at Interzero Academy!
During the course you will learn what the responsibilities are:
- regarding the need for administrative decisions,
- in terms of measurements,
- reporting,
- entry in the registers.
Take a look at the training at Interzero Academy today! Link HERE
Million-dollar fines for waste? Is it possible?
Million-dollar fines for waste? Is it possible?
Unfortunately, yes. It is a way of tightening sanctions for failing to keep records of waste or having it transported by people operating in the so-called grey market.
7 April in the podcast episode Adventures of Entrepreneurs on waste management in the company was attended by Przemyslaw Kuna, Managing Director at Interzero.
During the interview, the topics covered were:
- What is ROP (Extended Producer Responsibility),
- What is BDO (Waste Database),
- What is the level of awareness among Polish entrepreneurs,
- What are the consequences of not complying with the ROP,
- What official inspections look like and how to protect yourself from penalties,
- What is waste management and what does it do,
And what to expect in the future in terms of waste and environmental protection.
We encourage you to watch the entire interview on the Entrepreneurs' Adventures channel HERE
Entrepreneur: do you already know everything about waste management?
Entrepreneur: do you already know everything about waste management?
Waste management is one of the obligations of entrepreneurs that cannot be avoided. When doing so, mistakes often occur due to ignorance. Frequently changing legislation does not make it any easier.
If you need advice on how to do your waste management duty properly, watch our training course on 'Waste Management. "Waste management - practical advice for entrepreneurs" on Interzero Academy!
Course scope:
- Introduction to waste management
- Administrative decisions
- Registration obligations
- Waste records
- Reporting
We invite you to view today! Link HERE
Innovative raw material management developed by Interzero
Innovative raw material management developed by Interzero
Sustainability and closing the loop can be an opportunity for companies. ESG regulations are worth looking at not only in terms of the potential costs to the company, but also the tangible benefits, including profits and savings of natural resources.
Knowing this, we entered into a partnership with a company Fagum-Stomil and thanks to our joint commitment, we have been able to develop a way to use the residues of PVB film, used in the manufacture of car windscreens to make wellingtons. Due to its composition, the film is very difficult to process as it is subject to sticking. After lengthy tests, conducted since 2021 by Interzero and Łukpol, succeeded in developing a method to recycle PVB offcuts and reuse them in the production of shoe pellets. In this way, a hitherto perceived difficult raw material is recycled and reused.
The method developed provides measurable environmental benefits - reduces the amount of natural resources needed for production, reduces pollution and exploitation of the environment and leads to the mitigation of the climate crisis.
As an industry leader, we are on a mission to support the circular economy by seeking innovative, integrated environmental solutions focused on the future. We hope that our many years of experience and acquired know-how will enable us to implement even more projects focused on environmental benefits in the near future.
We encourage you to view photos of the product.
Action needs to be taken on bail
You have to startgo to worksć on deposits
What will be the impact of legislative delays on the deposit system? What about the excessive incineration of packaging and what will the future of chemical recycling look like? These topics were addressed in the latest debate "Packaging in the circular economy: from ideals to practice". for The Republic.
The following took part in the deliberations Renata Juszkiewicz, Anna Larsson, Robert Chciuk, Konrad Nowakowski, Jacek Wodzisławski, Andrzej Gantner, Łukasz Sosnowski and on behalf of Interzero Pawel Lesiak, Vice-President of the Management Board. The debate was chaired by Aleksandra Ptak-Iglewska.
The meeting discussed the future of the European packaging market, the effectiveness of recycling in Poland and the topic of reusable packaging.
When discussing the deposit scheme, participants pointed out that, given the PPWR criteria, the inclusion of dairy packaging is not quite a good idea.
"I agree with the call for dairy packaging not to be included in the system. However, this would be tantamount to not fulfilling the collection obligation under the Regulation. There is no good solution here. The EU regulations make it clear that milk product packaging must be included in the system. A compromise solution would be to postpone the entry into force of the deposit obligation for this range. This would allow the first experience of the system in other material ranges to be gathered and better prepared." - said Pawel Lesiak.
The obligation to introduce the system to smaller shops has also become a subject of dispute. Experts noted that small retail chains want to join the scheme, seeing it as a financial benefit and an opportunity to attract customers.
"As Interzero, we run such a system in small shops in Germany. In our western neighbour, these smaller operators, despite the statutory exemption, are keen to join in. This makes good business sense, because if a customer is not able to return bottles in a particular shop, he or she will simply start shopping elsewhere. In Poland, we should think in a similar way, regardless of the discussion about regulation. I am in talks with retail chains, including small shops, and I hear that they are very interested in the system and want to join it," said Paweł Lesiak.
Link to the whole debate HERE
How can business benefit from waste?
How can business benefit from waste?
Innovative environmental solutions, the unstable legal situation and the implementation of the circular economy concept were discussed by Anna Grom, CEO of Interzero in the latest podcast for Forbes Women Poland.
Environmental protection should not be an abstract value, but a necessary condition for our continued existence. It is worth constantly analysing what is happening in our country and in the world in terms of sustainable development. A trend that can be observed in terms of waste management is the fact that the younger generation is increasingly shifting from paying attention to the brand to recognising the environmental impact of a particular company. The big players are also aware of the cost of raw materials used in production and are moving towards sourcing raw materials in-house.
As an integrator of sustainable environmental solutions, Interzero analyses the needs of its customers and, together with them, seeks solutions that can deliver tangible financial and environmental results. We are already taking steps to close the raw material cycle - advising companies on how to optimise processes through sustainable packaging design, for example, and implementing circular economy concepts into existing and new business models.
We encourage you to listen to the entire podcast HERE