„We are facing a dramatic situation.” The industry is sounding the alarm.

Deputy Minister on the deposit system and pharmacies PAP

Stakeholders from the bottling sector are reaching out to Prime Minister Donald Tusk concerning the deposit-refund scheme. They caution that the introduction of the new regulations might lead to a decrease in competitiveness and have repercussions on the consumption and sales of certain beverage types.

„We have issued an appeal, an open letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, indicating that we find ourselves in a critical situation. Should we continue in this challenging condition of utilizing reusable bottles within the confines of the Deposit Refund System Act, our competitiveness will be compromised,” stated Dariusz Lizak, president of the National Chamber of Commerce „Bottling Industry,” during a press briefing.

He further remarked, „We will also create some disorder, because if this system is excessively costly – as stipulated by the new legislation – it will inevitably have a detrimental effect on various beverage categories. We anticipate a downturn in these segments.”

The industry urges Prime Minister Donald Tusk

He emphasized that there will be disorder in the market, as the introduction of a radically different system from the existing one will lead to consumer confusion regarding its operation, which will undoubtedly influence consumption patterns. Additionally, he believes it will undermine the currently effective bottle return and deposit systems.

„The Ministry of Climate and Environment’s rationale for dismantling the existing deposit return systems for glass bottles (…) and transitioning them to the new law on the deposit system is founded on a rather misguided belief that the new legislation will foster the use of returnable glass bottles. In our view, the opposite is true,” remarked Dariusz Lizak.

As Lizak highlighted, „the new legislation on the deposit system introduces two or three provisions that extend the logistics chain, delay transportation, and elevate logistics expenses.”

„They scatter the circulation of these bottles throughout the market, meaning they won’t be returned to us. Furthermore, there’s a significant concern regarding food safety, where there’s a high risk that these bottles, if not collected in suitable packaging for collective transport, may become damaged and removed from the market,” he added.

A plea to „reconsider the regulations”

Bartłomiej Morzycki, general director of the Association of Brewing Industry Employers – Polish Breweries, stated that there is still time to avert these changes.

„The system is set to commence in just a month, although we have been informed that the ministry will adopt a gradual approach. However, it’s not too late for modifications, as our systems, according to the law, can operate until the end of this year. Thus, there’s an opportunity to ease these regulations and preserve returnable bottles,” said Bartłomiej Morzycki.

He added that this is the juncture when either deposit systems for reusable bottles will be in effect in the market, or such packaging will simply cease to exist, or only minimal quantities will be accessible.

„We have developed a specific draft amendment”

„We have crafted a specific draft amendment to the act. (…) We are not altering or omitting these packages from the act (…), we merely aim to regulate them. At the very least in terms of clarifying the definition of a person introducing products in packaging. Here, we are primarily referencing the definition of a person directly bringing packaging to the market. (…) The goal is also to regulate this definition so that all producers of beverages, any beverages in returnable packaging, fall under this definition,” articulated Dariusz Lizak.

FULL CONTENT OF THE APPEAL TO THE PRIME MINISTER

The deposit-refund system in Poland is set to take effect on October 1, 2025. It mandates that stores larger than 200 square meters must enter into contracts with all operators of the deposit-refund system and accept returned packaging. Smaller stores (under 200 square meters) may join the system voluntarily.

What do we give away in the deposit system?

Deputy Minister on the deposit system

On Wednesday in Poznań, Deputy Minister of Climate Anita Sowińska was inquired about the status of preparations for the implementation of the deposit system and what would happen if there were no stores over 200 square meters in a given municipality to serve as a packaging collection point.

„We are certainly discussing the establishment of at least one collection point in each municipality to begin with, but I believe there will be many more. This single collection point is required by law and the obligations we have imposed on operators. Each operator is mandated to ensure at least one point in each municipality, though there may be additional points. From the day the system is launched, every store exceeding 200 square meters must also facilitate the collection of returnable packaging,” she stated.

When questioned about the deposit amount, the deputy minister

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