In this newsletter, we inform you regularly about current developments in the field of environmental compliance.
If you have any questions, our experts will be happy to provide you with personal advice at any time.
Today's topics at a glance
Germany: Single-use plastic fund and producer obligations in 2025
France: Tighter controls on reparability and sustainability indices
Austria :Call for a ban on single-use vapes
USA - California tightens up recycling labeling
Webinar invitation
We wish you an exciting read and look forward to your feedback!
Yours sincerely German Recycling
Germany : Single-use plastic fund and producer obligations in 2025
Since 2024, manufacturers of to-go food containers, tobacco filters (or filters containing tobacco) and other single-use plastic articles have been subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR).
This means that companies are obliged to contribute to the costs of collecting, cleaning and disposing of this waste in public areas as well as to waste advisory measures.
Who is affected?
Manufacturers - this includes producers, fillers, sellers and importers - must contribute financially to the removal of environmental pollution. The amount of the levy depends on the quantities of products placed on the market each year. The corresponding quantity report is submitted via the DIVID platform of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).
Important for 2025: note the transitional regulation
The deadline for submitting the quantity report for 2024 has been extended from May 15 to June 15, 2025.
A special regulation applies for the 2024 reporting year: no external confirmation of verification is required, even if the reported quantities exceed 100 kg.
But be careful: the Federal Environment Agency can still request an audit in individual cases. Even if registration has not yet been completed, reporting and payment obligations remain binding.
Failure to do so can be expensive
Anyone who does not submit the notification, submits it late or submits it incorrectly risks a fine of up to €10,000.
If your company is a distributor of single-use products or single-use plastic products in Germany and you are not sure which obligations apply to your company and whether you are complying with them, we will be happy to help you. Simply get in touch with us.
France: Tighter controls on reparability and sustainability indices
The French authority DGCCRF (Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes) calls on companies to report violations of the reparability index - such as missing or misrepresented information on products.
Repairability index: definition and obligations
The repairability index is a score from 1 to 10 that indicates how well an appliance can be repaired. It currently applies to:
Laptops
Electric lawn mowers
Electric lawn mowers
Smartphones
Dishwashers
High pressure cleaners
Vacuum cleaners
The calculation is based on five criteria:
Availability of technical documentation
Dismantling/access to components
Availability of spare parts
Price of spare parts
Product-specific criteria
Manufacturers must calculate and document the index correctly. Dealers must label it visibly, both online and in-store.
Durability index: new requirements from 2025
From 2025, the reparability index will gradually be replaced by the durability index. This will also be rated on a scale of 1 to 10, but will also take into account service life, ease of maintenance and the possibility of product improvement, for example through software updates. The first product categories with the new index are televisions and washing machines.
For manufacturers, this means that in future, products should not only be repairable, but also durable and capable of further development.
Your direct contact to us
Do you have questions about electrical, packaging or battery legislation?
Would you like to apply for a WEEE number or do you need an insolvency-proof guarantee?
We will be happy to help you. Simply contact us via chat, e-mail, contact form or telephone. We will respond to your inquiries within the next 24 hours.
The VOEB and ARGE AWV associations are calling for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes as part of the amendment to the Austrian Tobacco Act. The reason: the products contain lithium batteries which, if disposed of improperly, cause daily fires in waste facilities and are therefore a hazard.
What does this mean for manufacturers & retailers?
Growing political and social rejection: A clear majority of the population (75 %) is in favor of a ban. In countries such as Belgium, France and the United Kingdom, disposable vapes are already prohibited by law.
Increasing disposal pressure: Manufacturers and retailers are indirectly liable for problematic disposal, as the return obligation hardly works in practice - many devices end up in residual waste.
Risk to reputation and brand image: The public perception of disposable vapes as "environmental sinners" and fire-causers is growing - as is the political pressure to act.
Loss of raw materials as a compliance issue: The metals contained in vapes, such as lithium, cobalt or nickel, are permanently lost to recycling due to incorrect disposal - a breach of the principles of the circular economy and sustainability.
EU-wide regulatory pressure: Manufacturers should prepare for a possible sales ban and take-back obligations - not just in Austria, but EU-wide in the medium term.
It is important for your company to prepare for the upcoming changes now. Our experts will be happy to help you if you need support.
Click on the button below now to make a free inquiry.
With the law SB 343 ("Truth in Recycling"), California has passed new, strict requirements for the use of recycling symbols on products and packaging. From October 4, 2026, only materials that are actually recycled in practice may be labeled as "recyclable".
Who is affected?
All companies that sell products or packaging in California and use recycling labels or the well-known "Chasing Arrows" symbol - including manufacturers, retailers, exporters and brand owners outside the USA who export to California.
What to do?
Check all recycling labels for conformity with the new requirements.
Compare materials used with CalRecycle's materials study published on April 4, 2025.
Adjust or remove labels if the material does not meet the "60% collection and sorting rate" in California
Develop a compliance strategy, ideally with the support of EPR experts.
Consequences for non-compliance:
Misleading recycling information is considered a violation of the law. Companies may face legal action, warnings or fines.
If you have any questions about the EPR obligation for packaging in California or need support, our experts can also advise you on country-specific special cases.
To ensure that you continue to receive an informative and appealing newsletter in the future, we look forward to your feedback. Feel free to send us an e-mail and let us know your opinion, comments and suggestions for topics.
.png?upscale=true&width=1120&upscale=true&name=EPR%20made%20easy%20(1).png)
