“To go” offers
Environmental aid: Gastronomy is opposed to reusable options
Anyone who orders takeaway food in Germany should also receive an offer for reusable packaging from 2023 onwards. But some restaurant chains don’t follow the rule, says the organization.
Two years after the introduction of the reusable offer requirement, the German Environmental Aid (DUH) is accusing several large catering chains of violating the regulation. After test visits to several branches of Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Nordsee and Vapiano, legal action was taken against three of the companies, the DUH announced.
The obligation to offer reusable packaging has been in effect since January 1, 2023. Since then, larger companies have had to offer reusable packaging in addition to conventional single-use plastic packaging.
“Our new test visits show that catering establishments are not taking the obligation to offer reusable products seriously, even after two years,” criticized Barbara Metz, Federal Managing Director of the DUH. The visits took place in November.
Excuses and inadequate supply
The branches would advertise a corresponding offer on signs or screens – but according to the information, the test subjects did not receive a corresponding container for all the drinks or dishes they wanted. “Excuses such as reusable packaging is out of the question or can only be issued for online orders prevent consumers from using environmentally friendly reusable packaging,” says Metz.
The fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken is said to have performed particularly poorly: “None of the tested branches provided a complete reusable offering,” said a statement that was previously available to the German Press Agency.
Misunderstanding or individual mistakes?
Burger King rejected the allegations and, in response to a dpa request, wrote of a “misunderstanding” and “individual error” if reusables were not issued despite ordering. The employees are “regularly trained on how to properly handle reusable materials,” it said. When asked, there was no comment from the other catering companies.
Although no legal action has been taken against Vapiano for a violation, the implementation of the obligation to offer is still not exemplary: “The chain uses an individual reusable system and charges a very high amount of 5.50 euros to the cups.” That makes reusable unattractive. The reusable boxes on offer, on the other hand, have a deposit of 50 cents that is “far too low” – not a sufficient incentive to return them, according to the DUH.
Gastronomy should promote reusables
The organization also criticizes the fact that catering establishments do not actively inform their customers about the reusable offerings: In a total of 180 test visits within two years, the testers were “not once” actively made aware of the reusable offering by sales staff. “So reusables remain unknown to most people,” explained Elena Schägg, DUH deputy head of circular economy. According to her, the catering industry should make it as easy as possible for consumers to use reusables – for example through cross-company and uniform reusable pool systems.
dpa
Source: Stern
