The Finnish Beverage Container Deposit System Could Serve as a Model for All of Europe
In Finland, retailers and beverage companies have developed an exceptionally effective deposit-based recycling system for beverage containers. Without exemptions, however, the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation would set Finland back decades and force a return to the use of refillable glass bottles.
Finns return more than 2.3 billion bottles and cans each year. The impressive recycling rate of over 97 percent demonstrates the circular economy at its best. All beverage containers collected through the system are recycled into new beverage packaging.
However, the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation threatens to dismantle this success story. Without exemptions, Finland would be pushed back decades, compelled to reintroduce refillable glass bottles, even though the current system works exceptionally well.
According to the regulation, by 2030 at least 10 percent of beverage containers must be reusable. This requirement would apply not only to beer and soft drinks, but also to products such as juices and smoothies.
New requirements would increase costs and emissions
Through the deposit system, beverage containers are recycled as raw materials, not reused as refillable containers. Meeting the reuse targets would require hundreds of millions of euros in new investments by the beverage industry and retailers in production lines, washing facilities, and storage. The washing process needed for reuse also increases consumption of water, chemicals, and energy. At the same time, transporting heavy glass bottles would inevitably raise climate emissions, as glass weighs considerably more than plastic or aluminum.
If deposit-based plastic bottles were replaced by reusable ones, Finland’s plastic packaging recycling rate would drop significantly, pushing the country even further from EU recycling targets. Currently, deposit plastic bottles account for more than one-third of Finland’s plastic packaging recycling.
Effective systems should be recognized in EU regulation
Food and drink industry associations, retail associations, and Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy (Palpa) have appealed to the European Commission and EU decision-makers to maintain Finland’s well-functioning recycling system.
The current Commission has made a strong commitment to cutting red tape. Later this year, it is expected to publish guidance on the interpretation of the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. With this guidance, the Commission could exclude single-use packaging from reuse targets if it already achieves a very high recycling rate, for example above 90 percent. This would ensure the continuation of systems that are already working exceptionally well—and offer a model for the whole of Europe.
Further information:
Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation
Director Satumaija Levón, satumaija.levon@etl.fi, +358 40 752 8537
Finnish Commerce Federation
Chief Policy Adviser Marja Ola, marja.ola@kauppa.fi, +358 50 383 7711
Brewing and Soft Drinks Federation of Finland
CEO Lasse Pipinen, lasse.pipinen@panimoliitto.fi, +358 50 341 1611
Finnish Grocery Trade Association
Chief Policy Adviser, Katriina Jaakkola, katriina.jaakkola@pty.fi, +358 50 371 7177
Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy (Palpa)
CEO Pasi Nurminen, pasi.nurminen@palpa.fi, +358 9 8689 8665
