Handel: Umwelthilfe: Weiter hohe Verpackungsquote in Supermärkten

A recent study by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) reveals that many products in German supermarkets continue to be sold in environmentally harmful packaging. Barbara Metz, DUH's Federal Business Manager, stated that disposable bottles, cans, and unnecessarily pre-packaged foods still dominate supermarket shelves and discounters.

The issue is particularly prevalent among discount chains, where many products are packaged in plastic. For instance, fruits and vegetables in the DUH-studied stores had a packaging ratio of around 68 percent, while full range stores like Rewe, Edeka, and Lidl had a slightly lower rate of 58 percent. The study emphasizes that bio stores such as Alnatura, Denns, and Bio Company are leading the way, with a packaging ratio of only 16 percent for fruits and vegetables.

The DUH analyzed the offerings in 48 stores between April and August 2023, including chains like Aldi Süd, Aldi Nord, Lidl, Penny, Netto, Norma, Rewe, Edeka, Kaufland, Alnatura, Denns Biomarkt, and Bio Company. The study found that packaging ratios have sometimes increased, even in bio markets. For example, the packaging ratio for organic fruits and vegetables in Alnatura stores was 11 percent, which is 10 percentage points higher than in 2022.

In Bio Company, the ratio was 15 percent, a 6 percentage point increase, and in Denns, it was 17 percent, a 7 percentage point increase. The DUH also criticizes the high single-use plastic ratios in drinks, particularly at discounters where water, juice, soft drinks, and beer are sold exclusively in single-use bottles. The DUH emphasizes that "volunteering does not work" and calls for politically binding rules on reusable packaging, including stronger responsibilities for the environmental impact of one-use packaging.