French drinks giants and supermarkets back deposit returnable deposit scheme

ANALYSIS

The French divisions of Coca-Cola Europe, Pepsi, Red Bull, Danone, Evian, Nestlé, with waters Vittel and Perrier, published an open letter in the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday via their federations. The supermarket federation, la Fédération du commerce et de la distribution, also co-signed. This federation includes supermarket chains that are active in Belgium or the Netherlands: Aldi, Lidl, Carrefour, Spar and Colruyt.

Under the title “Deposit schemes for recycling beverage packaging are essential for a true circular economy”, the beverage producers and supermarkets write that deposit schemes are necessary to reach the European and national target of 90% selective collection quickly enough.

Revolution

“We have spent months analysing the results of the various European systems and modelling different scenarios. It became clear that only countries that adopted a deposit scheme reach, and even exceed, the 90% collection target. In Finland, 91% of PET bottles are returned; 90% in Denmark and 97% in Germany. This reality forces France to seriously consider this solution,” write the French beverage producers and supermarkets in the Journal du Dimanche.

The letter is signed by the chairmen of the various federations and industry associations. These count the major brand names of the beverage industry and supermarkets among their members.

The fact that French beverage giants and supermarket chains are coming to the realization that they can only achieve the target with a deposit scheme is a major revolution in the European beverage and supermarket sector. Until now, most beverage corporations and supermarkets claimed they “did not believe” in deposit schemes as a solution. This is also the message that Afvalfonds and Fost Plus, the Dutch and Belgian organizations for producer responsibility, repeated endlessly.

Now, the analysis made by the French multinationals of the different systems in European countries is also a heavy blow for the Dutch and Belgian collection system (the "blue bag"), promoted by Afvalfonds and Fost Plus respectively. Indeed, the French industry peers conclude from months of research that "only countries that adopted a deposit scheme reach and even exceed the 90% collection target." Not the Netherlands, not Belgium.

An example for the Netherlands and Belgium

With the letter, the French companies express their support for the Loi Anti-Gaspillage, the anti-waste law, which the French Secretary of State for the Environment Brune Poirson submitted on Wednesday to the French Council of Ministers. Poirson is a minister for En Marche, the party of French President Emmanuel Macron. “The support of the French beverage producers and supermarkets is a major breakthrough in the fight against plastic soup and litter,” says environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux.

“We hope that the French top managers of Coca-Cola, Danone, Nestlé, Carrefour, Colruyt and the other multinationals will share their analysis leading to deposit schemes with their colleagues in the Netherlands and Belgium. After all, there are no significant differences between the French, Belgian or Dutch beverage markets. Belgium and the Netherlands must also meet the European targets. Now that French beverage producers and supermarkets want to make the step towards deposit schemes, it is logical that their colleagues in the Netherlands and Belgium also commit to this environmental measure,” said the environmental organisation.

It remains to be seen whether beverage producers and supermarkets in the Netherlands and Belgium will also speak out in favour of deposit schemes. Their beverage packaging is often found in nature as litter.

Fost Plus, the Belgian non-profit organisation representing the packaging companies, estimates the recycling of plastic bottles and flasks in Belgium at 82.9%. However, research by Recycling Netwerk shows that in reality a maximum of 61.2% to 67.2% of plastic bottles are recycled in Belgium. Research by Recover confirmed this, concluding that the recycling of PET bottles is only 51 per cent.

Sustainable consumers

In their open letter, the French multinationals also highlight that 91% of French people support deposit schemes. “More and more consumers want to consume sustainably. They expect beverage producers and supermarkets to cooperate on deposit schemes in order to limit the environmental damage of their products,” says Recycling Netwerk: “It is certain that the support for deposit schemes gives a significant boost to the sustainability image of French beverage producers and supermarkets. If Belgian and Dutch beverage giants and supermarkets lag behind, this could put them at a disadvantage in the competitive market of beers, soft drinks and waters,” the environmental organisation analyses.

In Belgium and the Netherlands too, there is a strong demand from consumers for deposit schemes. 8 out of 10 people declare themselves in favour of dep

ANALYSIS

The French divisions of Coca Cola Europe, Pepsi, Red Bull, Danone, Evian, Nestlé with waters Vittel and Perrier published an open letter in the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday via their federations. The supermarket federation, la Fédération du commerce et de la distribution, also co-signed. This federation includes supermarket chains that are active in Belgium or the Netherlands: Aldi, Lidl, Carrefour, Spar and Colruyt.

Under the title “Deposit schemes to recycle beverage packaging are essential for a true circular economy”, the beverage producers and supermarkets write that deposit schemes are necessary to reach the European and national target of 90% selective collection quickly enough.

Revolution

“We have spent months analysing the results of the various European systems and modelling different scenarios. It became clear that only countries that adopted a deposit scheme reach, and even exceed, the 90% collection target. In Finland, 91% of PET bottles are returned; 90% in Denmark and 97% in Germany. This reality forces France to seriously consider this solution”, write the French beverage producers and supermarkets in the Journal du Dimanche.

The letter is signed by the chairmen of the various federations and industry associations. These count the major brand names of the beverage industry and supermarkets among their members.

The fact that French beverage giants and supermarket chains are coming to the realization that they can only achieve the target with a deposit scheme is a major revolution in the European beverage and supermarket sector. Until now, most beverage corporations and supermarkets claimed they “did not believe” in deposit schemes as a solution. This is also the message that Afvalfonds and Fost Plus, the Dutch and Belgian organizations for producer responsibility, repeated endlessly.

Now, the analysis made by the French multinationals of the different systems in European countries is also a heavy blow for the Dutch and Belgian collection system (the "blue bag"), promoted by Afvalfonds and Fost Plus respectively. Indeed, the French industry peers conclude from months of research that "only countries that adopted a deposit scheme reach and even exceed the 90% collection target". Not the Netherlands, not Belgium.

An example for the Netherlands and Belgium

“We hope that the French top managers of Coca-Cola, Danone, Nestlé, Carrefour, Colruyt and the other multinationals will share their analysis leading to deposit schemes with their colleagues in the Netherlands and Belgium. After all, there are no significant differences between the French, Belgian or Dutch beverage markets. Belgium and the Netherlands must also meet the European targets. Now that French beverage producers and supermarkets want to make the step towards deposit schemes, it is logical that their colleagues in the Netherlands and Belgium also commit to this environmental measure,” said the environmental organisation.

It remains to be seen whether beverage producers and supermarkets in the Netherlands and Belgium will also speak out in favour of deposit schemes. Their beverage packaging is often found in nature as litter.

Fost Plus, the Belgian non-profit organisation representing the packaging companies, estimates the recycling of plastic bottles and flasks in Belgium at 82.9%. But research by Recycling Netwerk shows that in Belgium in reality a maximum of 61.2% to 67.2% of plastic bottles are recycled. Research by Recover confirmed this, concluding that the recycling of PET bottles is only 51 per cent.

Sustainable consumers

In their open letter, the French multinationals also highlight that 91% of French people support deposit schemes. “More and more consumers want to consume sustainably. They expect beverage producers and supermarkets to cooperate on deposit schemes in order to limit the environmental damage of their products,” says Recycling Netwerk: “It is certain that the support for deposit schemes gives a significant boost to the sustainability image of French beverage producers and supermarkets. If Belgian and Dutch beverage giants and supermarkets lag behind, this could put them at a disadvantage in the competitive market of beers, soft drinks and waters,” the environmental organisation analyses.

In Belgium and the Netherlands too, there is a strong demand from consumers for deposit schemes. 8 out of 10 people declare themselves in favour of deposit schemes on bottles and cans.

The Deposit Alliance, the coalition of municipalities, cities, businesses and organisations requesting the introduction of deposit schemes from the Dutch and Belgian governments, already has more than 900 partners eighteen months after its establishment.

Belgium becomes isolated

“French companies have understood that they need to take action to get out of the bad corner of plastic soup. Now all eyes are on Belgian and Dutch beverage companies and supermarkets,” concludes Recycling Netwerk.

More info:

Signatories of the open letter in Le Journal du Dimanche

Boissons énergisantes France (BEF) groups the companies that produce the brands Crazy Tiger, Dark Dog, Red Bull and Truc de fou

Boissons rafraîchissantes de France (BRF) groups L’Abeille, Coca-Cola European Partners France, Coca-Cola France, Danone Eaux France, Lorina, Nestlé Waters France, Orangina Suntory France, Paris Cola, PepsiCo France, Refresco France, SNEMBG, Teisseire

La Maison des Eaux Minérales Naturelles (formerly CSEM) represents all French companies active in water: Neptune (producer of Thonon, Vernière, Vals, Saint-Yorre, Vichy-Célestins, Rozana, Châteldon), Mont-Roucous, Nestlé Waters France (Vittel, Hépar, Contrex, Perrier), la Société des Eaux Minérales d’Ogeu (Ogeu, Plancoët, Chevreuse, Quézac), Société Anonyme des Eaux Minérales d’Evian (SAEME, Evian La Salvetat, Badoit), Société des Eaux de Volvic (SEV, producer of Volvic, Refresco France (Saint-Alban), Wattwiller.

La Fédération du commerce et de la distribution (FCD), with its most famous supermarkets Aldi, Lidl, Carrefour, Spar and Colruyt.

Fédération nationale des boissons, the federation of beverage suppliers to the hospitality sector.