Environment and packaging, packaging ordinance
Pursuant to the German Ordinance on the Avoidance and Recovery of Packaging Wastes (Packaging Ordinance), every distributor of packaging (i.e. anyone who puts packaging or packaging material into circulation, as Octopus Office does in most cases) has to be registered at one of the dual system organisations. We are registered at "Grüner Punkt" (Green Dot). Please use the corresponding containers and disposal sites to dispose of our packaging.
If you want to dispose of our packaging in a different way, please contact us (telephone: +49 (0)351-8894981) to coordinate the return. We will give you the address of your nearest municipal collection point or waste disposal company that accepts the packaging free of charge. If this is not possible, you can also return the packaging to us free of charge. We will reuse the packaging or dispose of it in accordance with the Packaging Ordinance.
5 frequently asked questions on the Packaging Ordinance
A new Packaging Ordinance came into effect in Germany on 01st January 2009. Ever since, it has been rumoured that everything is now worse than ever. By answering some of the questions that are frequently asked by shopkeepers and dealers, we want to help dissipate this myth.
1. Who has to register?
Pursuant to the Packaging Ordinance, every “distributor” has to register. This means that every dealer who delivers packaging to consumers has to join a dual system - this also applies to you as operator of an “ink filling station” or a refill shop.
2. What information has to be provided in my online shop?
Previously, any dealer not participating in a dual system had to provide information about the return of packaging to the dealer. Today, however, every dealer has to participate in a return system, so that this obligation of information no longer applies. The dealer may still give information about the system they participate in, but not in an advertising way, because this would be considered an advertisement under the law.
In this instance, the slogan “If you don’t say anything, you don’t say anything wrong!” applies.
3. Is it necessary to identify packaging?
Pursuant to the new Packaging Ordinance, packaging no longer needs to be identified. Some dual system organisations provide stickers, but they are for advertising purposes only, their utilisation is not mandatory.
4. My supplier is registered - is that enough?
No. According to a decision of the work group “Waste” of the federal government and the federal states, any packaging material used for the transportation of goods and delivered to the end consumer is considered “sales packaging”. Anyone who puts sales packaging into circulation has to be registered, i.e. every dealer has to join one of the waste disposal systems.
5. What kind of packaging does the ordinance refer to?
The Packaging Ordinance distinguishes three types of packaging: sales packaging, outer packaging and transport packaging. However, these terms can be confusing. “Transport packaging” does not refer to the parcel inside which the goods are delivered to the customer; in fact, any packaging material - including the parcel - which is delivered to the customer is considered sales packaging.
The shopkeeper or dealer has to make sure that all packaging is licensed. This is particularly important for imported goods. Ideally, the importer should join one of the systems and have their packaging licensed.
For more information on licensing please visit: http://www.gruener-punkt.de/en/
With the kind assistance of http://www.trustedshops.co.uk/
