Breaking: beverage producers are now themselves calling for the introduction of deposit return schemes in all EU countries

They are doing this via an opinion piece published on the Euractiv website today. “A historic breakthrough in the deposit return scheme dossier,” environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux responds with delight.

“EFBW and UNESDA believe that well-designed Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) could hold the key – and a growing number of EU member states are coming to the same conclusion and considering their introduction. Coca-Cola European Partners SVP Public Affairs and Government Relations, Hans van Bochove, also agrees that “Well designed DRS would enable the EU to reach its collection targets for beverage bottles faster – and would also secure the food-grade quality rPET that our beverage industries need”, reads the open letter from EFBW and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe.

EFBW represents more than 500 European water producers. UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe represents soft drink producers active in Europe, including Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Danone, Nestlé Waters and Red Bull.

“This is a historic breakthrough,” responds Recycling Netwerk Benelux. “Five years ago, all beverage producers were still traditionally opposed to deposits on plastic bottles. As a result, some European governments were reluctant to introduce the environmental measure. Now that the companies involved are themselves calling for deposit return schemes, there is no longer any reason to wait. Deposits reduce the number of plastic bottles in nature by 70 to 90 per cent. For the governments of countries such as France, Spain and Belgium, this should be the starting signal to finally draft deposit legislation,” says the environmental organisation.

“We have been saying all along that the European target of 90% separate collection of plastic bottles, set out in the Single Use Plastic Directive, can only be achieved with a deposit return scheme. But now the beverage producers themselves are also saying they need deposits for this. That really is a game-changer.”

Eight European countries have had deposit return schemes on plastic bottles and cans for years. Ten European governments have made decisions over the past four years to introduce or expand deposit return schemes. Two days ago, Recycling Netwerk published an analysis showing that the positions of beverage producers were becoming increasingly positive. “But now the die is finally cast,” the environmental organisation concludes.