World Environment Day: Reusable Report Takes Stock of Reusable Packaging

Beer leads with a reusable share of almost 60 percent, followed by milk (over ten percent) and mineral waters (9.9 percent), as announced in a release on Wednesday. The majority (97.5 percent) of the reusable packaging is made of glass. The reusable packaging report includes data from 360 companies with a total of 3,911 branches, each with over 400 square meters of sales area.

Reusable Packaging Report: Changes in Reusable Packaging Especially in the Discount Sector

Since the beginning of 2024, the grocery retail sector in Austria is required to offer beverages in reusable packaging. While around 35 percent of branches had to meet the reusable quota in 2024, it will be 90 percent from 2025, and all by 2026. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the range has changed significantly, especially in the discount sector - there are significantly more reusable options on the shelves. "Reusable is living environmental protection - every bottle that is reused saves valuable resources and reduces waste," said Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig on the occasion of Environment Day on Thursday, June 5.

Environmental Associations Call for More Waste Prevention Ahead of World Environment Day

Environmental organizations are also using World Environment Day to draw attention to their concerns. The Environmental Umbrella Association highlighted the lack of binding commitments in circular economy and waste prevention in a release on Wednesday. An effective circular economy requires the reduction of single-use packaging and legal anchoring. The association called for an "ambitious implementation of the EU Packaging Regulation in Austria" as well as "goals for waste prevention, targeted promotion of reusable packaging, and a rethink in product design and logistics." Existing models such as deposit systems or reuse initiatives must be comprehensively implemented and systematically promoted, it said.

The "Eco-Social Forum" and "The Food Bank" Austria pointed out the ecological, economic, and social consequences of food waste on the occasion of the action day. In Austria, over one million tons of still edible food end up in the trash annually. 54 percent of avoidable food waste in the country occurs in private households, it was stated in a release. With the project "Is Anyone Eating This?" by the two organizations, awareness of the issue should be raised and simple tips for avoiding food waste should be provided.

(APA/Red)

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