In 1990, industry and trade founded Der Grüne Punkt to create an independent system for the return and recycling of packaging. The initiative was driven by the growing volume of waste, which had previously ended up largely unsorted in landfills. With Der Grüne Punkt, a dual disposal system was introduced that collects packaging waste separately from general household waste. The introduction of collection containers such as the Yellow Bag and glass bins led to high costs, which were borne by companies and initially impacted product prices. The trademark “Der Grüne Punkt” was established as a licensing symbol and became an internationally recognized icon throughout the 1990s.
Milestones of a Sustainable Success Story
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1990: Founding of Der Grüne Punkt – Industry and trade launch the Dual System to finance packaging disposal. The trademark “Der Grüne Punkt” is introduced as a licensing symbol.
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1991: Legal foundation – The world’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law comes into force, marking a milestone for the circular economy.
- 1992–2000: Infrastructure development – Nationwide collection, sorting, and recycling of packaging is established across Germany.
- 2003: Market liberalization – Following decisions by the EU Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office, the market for dual systems is opened, paving the way for competition and efficiency.
- 2011: Entry into plastics recycling – With the founding of Systec Plastics GmbH, production of plastic recyclates (PP and LDPE) begins in Hörstel and Eisfeld.
- 2019: Packaging Act & Central Authority – The new Packaging Act comes into force, and the Central Packaging Register Office is established as a regulatory body
- 2024: Internationalization & Innovation – New owner GreenDot Global opens up opportunities for chemical recycling and expands operations in Italy and the TriPlast joint venture in Austria.
- 2025: Shaping the future – With Agilyx as a new shareholder, the group continues its development with the goal of keeping more materials in the loop and reducing emissions.
