Plastic Waste: From Recycling to Global Solutions

But when the break is over, that is honestly when the problem begins.

Yes, it is delicious and produces only 93 g of CO2 over its product lifecycle. It also protects animals and contains 25% less sugar than conventional alternatives — yet every time, 0.7 g of polypropylene plastic packaging is generated. This is part of a large, invisible problem that we all want to address: the global waste and industrial landscape. But let us start at home.

Post-Consumer Waste

What happens once you throw away the packaging? Everything that ends up in the recycling bin is sorted by plastic type and then washed. The result is a recyclate — ground or in granule form — that can be used to manufacture new plastic products. Companies pay a contribution to the Green Dot scheme to fund the recycling industry in Germany. Sounds reasonable.

If the packaging ends up in the general waste bin, it is incinerated. And unfortunately, that is the more common outcome.

Every two years, the industry conducts a study on plastic production and waste, which is also referenced by the Federal Environment Agency. Of 5.4 million tonnes of so-called «post-consumer waste» — i.e. waste generated after household use — 58% comes from packaging. Food packaging is right at the top of the list.

According to the study, the majority — 2.94 million tonnes — of waste is incinerated.

Since waste and plastics in Germany are almost exclusively either incinerated or recycled, we are considered a country with an extremely high material recovery rate. Virtually «only» 30,000 tonnes of post-consumer waste end up in landfill each year. Impressive!

Plastic Waste as an Export Product

Germany is also the top performer in the EU when it comes to exports: according to the Federal Statistical Office, 745,100 tonnes were exported abroad in 2022. This corresponds to approximately 37,250 containers, placing Germany in the pole position among EU countries. Since November 2023, EU member states may only export their plastic waste to OECD member states. This means that European waste can no longer be shipped to Southeast Asia.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and Life Among Waste

While recycling in Germany is still largely subsidised, the global picture looks very different. A complete lack of waste infrastructure and the import of waste from Western countries in recent years has led to massive pollution of land areas, rivers, and consequently the oceans as well. Waste burned in open areas contributes up to 10% of global CO2 emissions and releases methane gas. Small plastic particles enter the ocean as microplastics and make their way through the food chain to humans. In the ocean, waste is sometimes mistaken for food by animals, which subsequently die as a result. There are already several waste patches in the world's oceans with catastrophic consequences for the environment.

Preventing Waste

So how do we deal with this when we want to enjoy our little taste of the South Seas?

The first question for us at Veganz is always: can the plastic waste be avoided? For our little Choc Bar, that is currently not possible. Cellulose-based food packaging does now exist, but our manufacturers are still testing these on their packaging lines. Until then, some time will pass — and unfortunately, in the worst case, over 9.5 tonnes of plastic may end up in the world's oceans. That would be a real disaster!

This is why, together with Clean-Hub, we are supporting the development of a waste management system in Kerala, India, preventing waste from ending up in nature in the first place and negatively impacting our environment. At the same time, we are creating sustainable jobs in the Global South. As a company, we are B Corp certified, meaning our social and ecological impact has been independently recognised.

No, that won't solve the problem with the chocolate bar. Not even when 31% of our product packaging is already made from recycled or sustainable materials. The plastic packaging is still there. But we oppose the systemic flaw that plastic waste simply ends up thoughtlessly in a cycle through which it can reach the ocean. That already helps many people today. Above all, it helps you to keep taking your little break to the South Seas.

You can help all animals and our planet with compassion. Choose empathy on your plate and in your glass. Go vegan.