Pfandsysteme als marktbasierte Anreizstruktur für die Transformation zur Kreislaufwirtschaft

Although the transformation to a circular economy has no alternative ecologically and economically and is increasingly anchored in political strategies, the actual speed of transformation is still insufficient. Market-based incentives are needed to preserve the value of products at the end of the usage phase by separately collecting them in waste streams as pure as possible. Deposit return schemes can provide exactly such incentives, but must be adapted very precisely to the respective product characteristics. When assessing the possible effects, a clear distinction must therefore be made between private and state systems, isolated solutions or deposits in the context of collective systems of extended producer responsibility. Deposit 4.0 solutions incorporating digital product passports could lead to significant increases in effectiveness in the future. A (compulsory) “deposit on everything” will still not represent a sensible solution, as such systems require significant market intervention and tie up a considerable amount of private purchasing power.