Enquête Test-Achats : 3 Belges sur 4 souhaitent une consigne

74% of the consumers surveyed are in favor of a deposit on cans and plastic bottles. This is a significant increase compared to the two-thirds of consumers in the Test-Aankoop survey four years ago. Support therefore continues to grow. 89% of Belgian consumers will return their empty beverage packaging to the supermarket when a deposit system is introduced. 82% consider litter in their living environment to be a (major) problem.

The Test-Aankoop survey shows that Belgians overwhelmingly support this measure. Deposit systems have existed for a long time in 8 European countries. Another 10 countries are working on legislative texts for the introduction or expansion of deposits in their country. This week it was in the news that the Spanish and Austrian governments are taking significant steps. And the European beverage producers federations (UNESDA and NMWE), together with the environmental movement Zero Waste Europe, asked the European Commission on Wednesday to establish minimum criteria for national deposit systems.

Environmental organization Recycling Netwerk Benelux reacts to the Test-Aankoop survey: “Belgians overwhelmingly support deposits on plastic cans and bottles. Rarely are environmental measures so popular. The European federations of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever, and Danone have made it clear that they want to cooperate in the introduction of deposits, partly because several European targets can only be achieved with deposits.”

“In addition, 307 Flemish, Brussels, and Walloon cities and municipalities, more than half of all Belgian municipalities, are already members of the Statiegeldalliantie. 3 out of 4 Belgians are in favor of the measure. When will the regional governments of Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia submit the decrees for the introduction of deposits on plastic cans and bottles?”

A GfK survey in 2018 showed that within the voters of every political party, a large majority is in favor of deposits. The Belang van Limburg survey in April this year also showed massive support for the introduction of deposits. “What is still holding politicians back?”, concludes Recycling Netwerk Benelux.