Are there any country specific requirements within the European Union?
Yes, for example Germany has established legislation that contains certain rules for the disposal of packaging materials. In response to this legislation, a cooperative effort for the collection and recycling of packaging materials was initiated. The organization involved is called the “Duales System Deutschland,” and it administers the use of the “Green Dot,” a recycling symbol that is found on the packaging material of virtually all products sold in Germany. While packaging material for products sold in Germany is not legally required to carry the Green Dot, it is almost impossible to market a product in Germany without it. Typically, the importer pays a license fee to the packaging company, dependent on the type and amount of packaging, and provides the exporter with the necessary information. Other European countries have initiated similar programs like the Green Dot, including; France, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
