Beverage Association: one-way in Austria, as well as reusable

Vienna (OTS) – In the Wake of this week’s EU circular economy conference in Brussels, the Association of beverage manufacturers in Austria on the topic of the environmental benefits from returnable containers to disposable plastic containers reports to word and underlines the need for a common interaction between science, economy and Consumers in the sense of an ecologically and economically sensible sustainable European circular economy. The currently some required Deposit system rejects the beverage industry – as a short-term shot imaginary.

No advantages or disadvantages of glass-MW compared to PE-PE in Austria

A study by the Institute for energy and environmental research Heidelberg (IFEU) and the overall assessment of the Austrian situation for mineral water and soft drinks has shown that, in sum, no environmental advantages or disadvantages of returnable glass containers compared to disposable PET containers.

Ausschlagend of this is the high collection and recycling levels – including the Bottle-to-Bottle recycling of PET containers in Austria. 8 out of 10 PET bottles are in this country already recorded in the separate collection system and can be processed to high-quality secondary raw material for new PET containers. This highest standards of the Austrian food industry. In addition, the percentage of Recycled materials in new PE is increased bottles on an ongoing basis.

Austria Circular Economy-Model:
The sustainability agenda for beverage containers

Already in 2004, the sustainability agenda for beverage containers was established in Austria as a successful cooperation of packaging manufacturers, Bottlers, trade, and collection and recovery systems. „While on the European level nor on the circular economy package was being considered, we have traded in Austria. From the beginning, the commitment, the optimisation of material cycles, the improvement of material efficiency and the use of new and innovative environmental technologies in the centre of the extensive measures in the framework of these volunteers. Only these joint efforts along the entire value chain to guarantee a sustainable development in the sense of an ecologically and economically reasonable recycling economy and strengthen through continuous research and development – Austria as a business location. A proposed system of Deposit system is counterproductive and, as a singular measure, no great chances of success. Great effectiveness showed, rather, the joint efforts in the area of the sustainability agenda: Since 2004, were saved through a variety of measures, over a Million tons of CO2-Equivalents,“ thus Johann Brunner, an expert of the beverage Association.

Just in the area of PET Recycling, the Austrian beverage industry has already created 12 years ago with the PET to PET Recycling Austria GmbH is an international Best Practice example of the circular economy. In the case of PE to PE deliveries of PET crushed bottles-according to the manual examination and sorting in a mill into Flakes and washed. Thereafter, the currently most advanced treatment procedures. In two different processing lines to produce either PET Flakes or PET granules, respectively, in the highest food grade quality. Both recyclate forms, depending on the specific production requirements and to the highest possible level of recycled material to achieve share in the production of new PET beverage bottles.

Association of beverageänkehersteller Austria
Dr. Johann Brunner
Zaunergasse 1-3, 1030 Vienna
+43 (0)1 7131505
j.brunner@dielebensmittel.at