One Year of Mandatory Reusable Packaging in Germany: Opportunities and Obstacles from the Perspective of Consumers and Companies

Klara Theobald, Anne Mich, Stefanie Hillesheim, Susanne Hartard and Holger Rohn ()
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Klara Theobald: Department Environmental Business/Environmental Law, Trier University of Applied Sciences—Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, D-55761 Birkenfeld, Germany
Anne Mich: Department Environmental Business/Environmental Law, Trier University of Applied Sciences—Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, D-55761 Birkenfeld, Germany
Stefanie Hillesheim: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Applied Sciences—Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, Friedberg, D-61169 Gießen, Germany
Susanne Hartard: Department Environmental Business/Environmental Law, Trier University of Applied Sciences—Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, D-55761 Birkenfeld, Germany
Holger Rohn: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Applied Sciences—Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, Friedberg, D-61169 Gießen, Germany

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: Since the beginning of 2023, the so-called reusable packaging obligation has been in place in Germany in order to reduce the amount of waste from takeaway packaging. Catering companies will then be obliged to offer reusable packaging as an alternative to disposable plastic takeaway packaging. As part of the pilot project ‘Mehrweg Modell Stadt’ (‘Reusable city model’), an open infrastructure for reusable cups is in trial in Mainz and Wiesbaden. The project was subjected to a scientific monitoring process, which included the implementation of quantitative surveys among various stakeholders within the value chain, namely consumers, catering companies, and other companies engaged in the project. This was conducted over two time periods: August 2023 to September 2023, and February to March 2024. The results show a discrepancy between consumers’ attitudes and their actual behavior: Despite a high level of sustainability awareness and perceived positive benefits of reusable packaging, perceived barriers stand in the way of actual use. The biggest challenges for companies are the lack of consumer demand, practical handling and hygiene requirements. The results of this quantitative social research provide important insights for the development of targeted measures to promote the use of reusable packaging in takeaway catering and contribute to the discussion on closing the attitude–behavior gap along the entire value chain.

Keywords: reusable packaging obligation; single-use packaging; waste generation; sustainability awareness; consumer survey; takeaway catering companies; reusable quota; takeaway gastronomy; takeaway (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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