March 23, 2018

76% recycling rate in Germany

Approximately 175,000 tonnes of beverage cartons are produced for the German market every year. This equates to an amount of approx. 2 kilograms per capita per year.
Since the introduction of the Dual Systems framework (1991), almost 3 million tonnes of beverage cartons have been recycled.
This has been achieved through numerous activities by beverage carton manufacturers on a national and international scale. In addition to the promotion of innovative recycling processes, collection and sorting of used beverage cartons throughout Europe has steadily improved.

Ambitious – but achievable

An ambition that pays off! And with the new packaging law coming into force in the coming year, a separate rate for beverage cartons has been fixed. By 2022 at the latest, a recycling rate of 80% is compulsory.

The 7 Lives of Pure-Pak® cartons:

For paper recycling, the long and tear-resistant cellulose fibers of our beverage cartons are optimally suited. As a result of their high quality, these can be recycled up to 6 times. New boxes for pizza, eggs or shoes can be made from the used beverage cartons.

Recycling - How it works!

Beverage cartons are comprehensively covered by the Dual Systems collecting containers: In the sorting facilities, they are seperated from other valuable substances into their own section using an infrared scanner with a high degree of sorting accuracy
In the recycling plants, the first step is to crush the packaging.
IThe chopped-up material dissolves in the 30-metre long metal cylinder, with a diameter of 3 metres. The paper seperates from the aluminium PE coating and the symthetic closures - completely natural and without chemicals.
The pulp is pushed through the small holes in the drum wall, cleaned, thickened and pumped into the paper machine.
After just two and a half hours, the pulp is seperate again and available for reuse, for example in pizza and shoe boxes or egg cartons.
What is left:

Plastic and aluiminium can be used as fuel
Plastic can be used for the production of new plastic products
Aluminium can be used as a hardening agend in ceement

Beverage carton recycling companies in Germany

In Germany, ReCarton, a 100% subsidiary of the Fachverband Kartonverpackungen für flüssige Nahrungsmittel e.V. (FKN - the trade association focused on carton packaging for liquid food products), functions as a contractor for the nine Dual Systems companies now in existence.
ReCarton signs recycling contracts with paper factories and takes responsibility for the management of logistics as well as the delivery of “volume flow records” to state ministries for environmental protection.
Recyclingbetriebe Deutschland ReCarton
Standorte Recyclingbetriebe
Pure-Pak® Sense Website
Beverage Carton Recycling Video
Bad Heilbrunner, Germany
Product:
Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic

Bad Heilbrunner is launching four new organic iced tea varieties under the No Suga brand in Elopak’s sustainable Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic packaging. Pure-Pak® guarantees that the high-quality organic ingredients and natural herbal sweetness are optimally protected. Bad Heilbrunner is thus going with the trend toward natural and sugar-free soft drinks. 

Black Forest Milk, Germany
Product:
Pure-Pak® Sense

Black Forest Milk has launched its new fresh country milk from Landliebe with 1.5% fat in sustainable 500 ml Pure-Pak® Sense cartons in Germany. Thanks to the practical to-go packaging, the popular cocoa, strawberry, and banana varieties are also ideal for on the go. Landliebe is not only committed to sustainability in its packaging: the milk for the three new products comes from regional family farms in Baden-Württemberg.

Tropicana Brands Group, UK
Product:
Pure-Pak® Classic

Tropicana is expanding its “Fresh & Light” range: Five fruity varieties with 30% less sugar and 100% of the daily vitamin C requirement have been available in 850 ml and 1450 ml Pure Pak® cartons since April 2025. Since May, the most popular orange juices have also been available in a handy 500 ml Pure Pak® format. The cartons are fully recyclable in the UK.

Boermarke, Europe
Product:
Pure-Pak® Sense Natural Brown Board

Boermarke is expanding its Vairy brand plant-based range across Europe – all in sustainable 1000ml Pure-Pak® Sense cartons with natural brown board. The plant-based puddings and yogurts are available in a variety of flavors and enriched with calcium and vitamins. The natural brown color of the Pure-Pak® Sense cartons with visible fiber structure ensures an authentic look and strong shelf presence.