Single-Use Plastics Fund (EWKFondsG)

Germany's Single-Use Plastics Fund Act (EWKFondsG) has applied since 2024 and implements extended producer responsibility for certain single-use plastic products. Producers covered by the Act finance, through a special levy, in particular public-sector costs for collection, cleaning and awareness measures relating to waste from certain single-use plastic products.

Which products may be affected?

The statutory scope may include certain take-away food containers, bags and wrappers containing food, beverage containers, beverage cups including caps and lids, and lightweight plastic carrier bags. The statutory product characteristics and the specific use are decisive.

The German Environment Agency has further specified its enforcement practice. Since November 2025, a 500-gram threshold applies to bags and wrappers and food containers: products or empty food containers intended for contents exceeding 500 grams are not covered by the EWKFondsG under this enforcement approach.

Who is responsible?

Responsibility does not automatically fall on every distributor, filler or purchaser of packaging. What matters is who qualifies as a producer under the EWKFondsG and first makes an affected single-use plastic product commercially available on the German market, or sells it into Germany from abroad under the statutory conditions. Producers covered by the Act must register via the German Environment Agency's DIVID platform, report quantities and pay the levy assessed by the Agency.

What does this mean for Foodypack customers?

Whether a specific package and a specific company are affected depends on factors including material, product type, intended use, filling, supply chain and the company's role. A blanket classification of all Foodypack products would therefore not be appropriate. The company's own producer role should be checked particularly for personalised packaging, imports and special supply chains.

The Single-Use Plastics Fund is separate from packaging-law system participation and LUCID obligations. Further information is available on our Packaging & Disposal – PPWR / LUCID page.

Further information

Current classifications, registration and quantity reporting are handled through the information and DIVID platform of the German Environment Agency. As enforcement guidance and classifications can change, the latest information from the German Environment Agency should be consulted in cases of doubt.

Last updated: 20 August 2026