At the start of 2024, milk, mixed milk beverages and all drinkable milk products offered in one-way plastic beverage bottles with a filling volume of 0.1 to 3.0 litres will carry the DPG deposit logo! According to the German Packaging Act (VerpackG), these beverages become subject to the mandatory deposit and thus integrated into the DPG return and deposit system.

The Packaging Act (VerpackG) has stipulated a deadline-related regulation for the expansion of the deposit obligation as of 1 January 2024. In order to meet the legal requirements in the best possible way and at the same time to enable manufacturers and importers - the so-called First Distributors - to run smooth processes, the mandatory entry into the DPG Deposit System is facilitated via a practical preparatory regulation. Since March 2023, it has been possible for the companies concerned to participate in the system ahead of time and thus to register the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) of all relevant packaging in the DPG System Database at an early stage. In this way, the correct product labelling, including the trademarked DPG Logo, can be realized with an appropriate lead time and optimally synchronized with all system partners involved.

However, consumers will not actually find the milk beverages marked with the DPG Logo on store shelves until 1 January 2024.

For the First Distributors of these beverages, it must be noted that the packaging concerned is still subject to the system participation obligation in the dual system pursuant to Section 7 (1) of the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) until December 31, 2023, even if the distributor makes use of the option of early participation in the DPG system.

A further step towards conserving resources
By extending the mandatory deposit, the one-way plastic beverage bottles used for dairy products are also collected and compacted, thus creating the conditions for returning these raw materials to a sustainable circular economy. The one-way deposit system, which is implemented nationwide by DPG Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH and its network of system participants and partners, is thus once again contributing to the Europe-wide objective of reusing valuable raw materials.

A short overview of the deposit obligation you can find here.


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