Environmentally friendly packaging in the discounter

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and not only for the regular product range, but also for constantly changing promotional items. We checked! 

Packaging has many useful features. It guarantees quality, durability and shelf life for food and other products. It enables consumers to safely transport their products home. It also offers space for all the information about the product or food that the manufacturer must give us. However, for packaging to be recycled and reused in the best possible way, it must be “recyclable” from the point of view of the recycling industry. And this claim also applies to retail: RecycleMe has therefore carried out so-called recyclability checks for the packaging of a large German retailer at regular intervals over a longer period. The aim was to check the exhibited packaging regarding its recyclability.

The striving for more sustainability in everyday life now has many allies. Consumers want environmentally friendly packaging and are increasingly looking for ecologically packaged products when shopping in the supermarket. It is therefore very interesting for retailers to have the recyclability of their product range checked at regular intervals. And that also applies to the constantly changing range of special offers. 

RecycleMe , which has set itself the goal of promoting the international circular economy, has therefore continuously carried out so-called recyclability checks for packaging in many well-attended markets for a large retailer in Germany. The experts checked and assessed the recyclability of the entire campaign range at intervals. The criteria on which this assessment was based are derived from the minimum standard for recyclability of the Central Agency Packaging Register (Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister – ZSVR) and are among the strictest in Europe. 

Since the large German retailer pays very strict attention to regionality, additional stores were examined here to include as many different suppliers as possible. Aside from evaluating the recyclability of the packaged food, it should also be noted whether the packaging is “plastic-free” or not. 

“Contracts like this are an important signal from retailers that manufacturers and producers should pay more attention to recyclable packaging. Thanks to our know-how and our international expertise in the field of packaging assessment, we can use the criteria to provide a reliable assessment of recyclability. In this way, our customers can get in touch with their suppliers directly and request adjustments if necessary. Packaging should be used sensibly and recycled in the best possible way – we are pleased that this is also anchored in the internal packaging mission of our client,” says RecycleMe Managing Director Sabrina Goebel in praise of the flagship project. “Orders like this should not remain isolated cases. We are happy when other trading companies approach us with inquiries about checking their product range. They offer a great opportunity to change even the presentation of consumer goods and transform into a more sustainable future.”