Useful Information
100 Meetings of the DPG Advisory Board – Keeping the Bigger Picture in View
In the anniversary year of the German one-way deposit system, the DPG Advisory Board has held its 100th meeting. Since DPG was founded 20 years ago, senior representatives from the retail sector and beverage industry have supported its work through this advisory body, which is composed equally of representatives from both sectors. One hundred meetings over the past two decades show how continuously the Advisory Board analyses current developments and contributes its different experiences and perspectives to the work of DPG and the development of the system. The common goal: to keep the bigger picture in view and help ensure a smoothly functioning deposit system for the benefit of consumers.
DPG 20th Anniversary – EU Commission and the Federal Ministry for the Environment praise the success of the German deposit system for one-way beverage Packaging
Berlin/19 June 2026. The DPG deposit system is celebrating its anniversary and, twenty years after its introduction, can look back on a thoroughly positive track record. At the anniversary celebrations in Berlin on 17 June 2026, the European Commission and the Federal Ministry emphasised the importance of the German deposit system for a functioning circular economy. The facts also bear this out: The return of beverage packaging subject to a single-use deposit has long since become second nature to consumers in Germany. Return rates of 96 per cent and above demonstrate the system’s high level of acceptance and reliability in everyday life. Around 20 billion items of packaging are returned to the circular economy each year. Valuable materials are preserved and can be reused to make new products.
Twenty years of the German one-way deposit system: a success story
The DPG Deposit System is celebrating its anniversary and, twenty years after its introduction, can look back on a positive track record. Returning single-use beverage containers subject to a deposit has long since become second nature to consumers in Germany. A return rate of more than 96% demonstrates the system’s high level of acceptance and reliability in everyday life. Around 20 billion containers are returned to the circular economy every year. Valuable materials are preserved and can be reused for new products. DPG also contributes its expertise at the European level.
Following consultations: Draft of German Packaging Law reflects key system requirements
As part of the consultation process that has been ongoing since November 2025, DPG pointed out that targeted adjustments to the draft of German Packaging Law Implementation Act (Verpackungsrechts-Durchführungsgesetz, VerpackDG) were necessary in order to ensure that the proven structures of the German deposit return system (DRS) for one-way beverage packaging can be maintained in a stable manner in alignment with the new European regulatory framework.
DPG has closely accompanied the consultation process and actively contributed its system-specific expertise.
Protecting the German deposit system: amendments to the draft Packaging Implementation Act necessary
For almost 20 years now, the German deposit system for one-way beverage packaging has been one of the most efficient deposit and return systems in Europe. With around 20 billion packaging items collected annually and return rates of 96%2 and more, it is an important pillar of the German circular economy. The new EU Packaging Ordinance (PPWR) confirms the importance of such established systems and explicitly contains grandfathering provisions.
This makes it all the more important that national implementation regulations support the full maintenance of the German deposit system.