Trennhinweis e.V. celebrates milestone: In 2024, more than 10 billion products sold were already labelled with the waste sorting label for correct waste separation.
Munich, 10 March 2025 – Trennhinweis e.V. has reached a significant milestone: In 2024, over 10 billion products with the cross-manufacturer waste sorting labels on the packaging were already sold. This provides consumers with important guidance on correct waste separation directly on the packaging – a decisive step towards a more efficient circular economy.
Many of the major manufacturers, such as Netto Marken-Discount, Drogerie Müller, Procter & Gamble, Develey and Rügenwalder Mühle, are already using the free waste sorting labels from the association that was launched by dual systems in 2021 on their packaging. And more distributors are recognising the added value of the cross-manufacturer waste sorting labels and arre using them on the packaging of their products.
More than 10 billion pieces of product packaging labelled with the waste sorting labels were sold in 2024 alone – from packaging for tweezers and yoghurt pots to packaging for toilet paper – which equates to around 120 pieces of packaging per inhabitant in Germany. This everyday presence shows how widespread the educational work of Trennhinweis e.V. already is and what influence it has on awareness of correct waste separation.
‘The fact that more than 10 billion pieces of product packaging with our cross-manufacturerand free waste sorting labels were sold in 2024 alone proves the benefits for manufacturers and end consumers,’ says Dr Alexandra Ranzinger, Chairwoman of Trennhinweis e.V. ’Our aim is to make it easier for consumers to separate waste both in Germany and abroad with clear labelling and thus keep valuable raw materials in the cycle. With the help of our separation notices, waste separation is child’s play.’
Many distributors are already using the free separation notices on their packaging.
The relevance of uniform waste sorting labels on packaging is also endorsed by the German Conference of Environment Ministers, which called for the use of standardised separation labels as early as 2024.
End consumers also welcome standardised labelling across all manufacturers, as a YouGov survey shows. 85 per cent of respondents are in favour of uniform labelling across manufacturers and packaging with this uniform labelling is also demonstrably disposed of correctly more often.
The waste sorting labels offer consumers simple guidance on the correct waste separation by showing at a glance whether packaging belongs in the yellow bin or the yellow bag, in the paper or glass collection. The standardised basic layout ensures a strong recognition effect for consumers. In additional, optionally usable QR codes with corresponding information videos also illustrate the correct disposal of the respective packaging components.
About Trennhinweis e.V.
Trennhinweis e.V. advocates for qualitative and quantitative optimisation of the separate collection of packaging waste. The organisation is a joint initiative of dual systems in Germany which are responsible for the organisation of the collection, sorting and recycling of used sales packaging across Germany. Packaging manufacturers and retailers can print the waste sorting labels provided by the organisation on their sales packaging free of charge. With their easy-to-understand symbols, the labels provide information on the correct way to sort and dispose of the item of packaging in question. With their campaign, Trennhinweis e.V. are pursuing the goal of providing clear information to consumers about recycling and are thereby helping to ensure that packaging is recycled into high-quality materials and flows back into the circular economy. This means a reduction in both the consumption of resources and the production of CO2 emissions, bringing positive benefits to the environment.
About the survey
The data used is based on an online survey by YouGov Deutschland GmbH on behalf of the dual systems, in which 2025 people took part between 6th and 8th April 2022. The results are weighted and are representative of the German population aged 18 and over.