The planned eco-modulation of participation fees for packaging has also been delayed, reports Euwid.
 

Due to the shortened legislative period, the planned amendment to Section 21 of the Packaging Act (VerpackG) could no longer be implemented. According to Euwid, the federal government has confirmed this in response to a parliamentary enquiry from the CDU/CSU. However, the reform work is to be continued during the term of office of the new federal government, which is still being formed. According to Euwid, the current federal government is referring to the new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR), which was finally adopted at the beginning of February and will be binding in all EU member states from 12 August 2026. It provides for a mandatory ecological graduation of producer levies as well as new requirements for the recyclability of packaging. Future national legislation must take these requirements into account. A central element of the national reform was the planned introduction of a packaging fund, the revenues from which were to be used for the further development of the circular economy. According to Euwid, the German government's response does not reveal which specific measures are to be financed from this fund and how high the uniformly set, eco-modulated fee for packaging manufacturers should be. Furthermore, the introduction of a plastic tax from 2025, as included in the coalition agreement, was no longer an issue due to the shortened legislative period. In the opinion of the federal government, the ecological incentive effect of such a regulation depends on the specific design of the levy. The federal government's plan to introduce a recycling label is also in limbo.
 
Sources:

• Euwid Recycling und Entsorgung 9/2025 (25.2.2025)
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