With the Single-Use Plastics Fund Act (EWKFondsG), Germany is setting a decisive milestone in environmental protection. The law follows the polluter pays principle: manufacturers of single-use plastic products bear financial responsibility for the disposal and cleaning of public spaces. The aim is to reduce plastic pollution and create incentives for sustainable packaging solutions.
Objectives and basic principles of the law
Reduction of plastic waste: Single-use formats are made less attractive through financial levies in favor of reusable solutions.
Promotion of the circular economy: Incentives for environmentally friendly product design and recyclable materials.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR): Producers internalize the costs of cleaning, waste management, and public education.
Registration, notification, and contributions
Implementation is carried out digitally via the DIVID portal of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). The following key points apply to companies:
- Registration requirement: Manufacturers must register before commencing their activities. Without registration, there is a strict ban on distribution.
- Quantity reporting & payment: Registered companies report annually (by May 15) on the type and mass of products placed on the market in the previous year. The single-use plastic levy is calculated on the basis of this data.
- Use of fund resources: The amounts paid in finance municipal cleaning measures, waste management, and awareness campaigns against littering.
Outlook: The future of plastic regulation
The EWKFondsG is part of an EU-wide strategy to reduce microplastics and packaging waste. Its scope is being continuously expanded — for example, fireworks will also be subject to the levy from 2026. Companies should design their processes to be flexible enough to respond to future expansions and material assessments.
Conclusion: Responsibility as a driver of innovation
The EWKFondsG places environmental responsibility directly on the distributors of single-use plastics. While the focus in the short term is on registration and reporting, in the long term the law offers the opportunity to gain competitive advantages through intelligent redesign of packaging.
ECOPV-EU GmbH supports you in efficiently implementing the requirements of the EWKFondsG and future-proofing your product strategy.
