Environment - Plastic tax: consumers will not notice the costs
According to the responsible minister Steffi Lemke, consumers do not have to fear any noticeable additional costs due to the planned plastic tax of the traffic light coalition.
"We have proposed a plastic tax that consumers will not notice for individual products," said the Green politician in an interview with the German Press Agency. "The sums involved are too small for that, it's far too spread out." At the same time, it is good for the environment that there is now an incentive to bring less disposable packaging into circulation. She hoped that this effect would actually materialize, said the consumer minister.
"Get out of this packaging waste"
Lemke criticized the amount of waste that is produced, especially during the holidays. "I think we all want to get rid of this packaging waste," she said. Some people are probably moaning about all the waste right now at Christmas time, when presents are being unwrapped. "We make it, we produce it, the consumers, and ultimately the industry that offers us these products," said the Minister.
According to the plans of the traffic light government, manufacturers will in future have to pay a plastic levy to the EU, which is currently covered by the federal government. This is expected to generate revenue of 1.4 billion euros. Manufacturers could pass on the additional costs to end consumers.
This is exactly what the German Plastics Processing Industry Association announced. "There will be no other way than for it to be borne entirely by consumers," Managing Director Oliver Möllenstädt told dpa. There is no other way to finance the 1.4 billion euros.
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- Despite the traffic light coalition's planned plastic tax, Green politician Steffi Lemke assured consumers in an interview with the German Press Agency that they won't notice any significant additional costs for individual products due to the small sums involved.
- Lemke, who is also the consumer minister, emphasized that the reduction in disposable packaging is beneficial for the environment, hoping that this change will actually occur.
- In accordance with the traffic light government's plans, manufacturers will soon have to pay a plastic levy to the EU, as the current financing by the federal government will cease.
- The German Plastics Processing Industry Association, represented by Managing Director Oliver Möllenstädt, stated that the manufacturers will likely pass on the additional costs resulting from the plastic levy to the end consumers, as there's no other means to finance the revenue of 1.4 billion euros.
- The issue of waste generation, particularly during holiday seasons, has been criticized by Lemke, suggesting that everyone, including consumers and industries, plays a role in the creation and disposal of packaging waste.
Source: www.stern.de
