Packaging

Switzerland has been pursuing a strategy to optimise packaging for more than 20 years. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of packaging as much as possible over its entire life-cycle, from production to disposal.

The first life-cycle assessments of existing packaging alternatives were carried out and published in 1984. Since then, the assessments, which serve both producers and retailers, have been progressively updated. With awareness fostered early on, for common consumer goods distributors now generally use optimised packaging that is lightweight and designed to be recycled or at least disposed of easily as municipal solid waste.

1. Harmonisation with EU regulations
2. Current regulations
3. Disposal paths and responsibilities
4. Financing
5. Life cycle assessment of beverage containers

1. Harmonisation with EU regulations

As Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, EU regulations concerning packaging are not binding in our country. Nevertheless, the authorities are committed to harmonising the national regulations with EU rules so that goods can be traded freely.

The EU Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC regulates the principles for handling waste. For example, it establishes a waste hierarchy, introduces the concept of ‘extended producer responsibility’ and sets out requirements for prevention, reuse and recycling. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on Packaging and Packaging Waste builds on these measures and is the main regulation on packaging. It calls for binding reduction targets for packaging materials and sets requirements for recyclability, the proportion of material to be recycled and the labelling of packaging. It also sets targets for the use of reusable packaging and restricts or bans certain single-use packaging (in addition to Directive (EU) 2019/904).

The Packaging Regulation is binding on all EU member states and applies throughout the EU. Companies that export to the EU must comply with it. Retailers and manufacturers of packaging and products are particularly involved in implementing the regulation through the ‘extended producer responsibility’ instrument, and must meet comprehensive requirements.

2. Current regulations

The Environmental Protection Act contains general provisions that apply to packaging, in particular Articles 30–30e, 32 and 32a^bis in Chapter 4 (Waste) and Article 35i in Chapter 7 (Reduction of the Environmental Pollution Impact caused by Raw Materials and Products). The Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance also contains provisions on this topic. Environmentally harmful substances in goods with a short lifespan such as packaging are either illegal (e.g. cadmium or mercury), or countries have signed voluntary agreements to avoid them (e.g. chlorine-containing plastics such as PVC).

Unlike the EU, Switzerland does not currently have a general, comprehensive packaging ordinance in force. With the exception of beverage packaging (see below), packaging materials and packaging do not have to be declared, and no tax is levied on them. Nor does the law require packaging to bear labels indicating correct disposal or recycling. The Green Dot and comparable labels (symbols) may be left on packaging imported into Switzerland; however, they have little meaning in this country. Here, the umbrella organisation Swiss Recycle proposes a range of pictograms indicating how packaging can be correctly recycled and disposed of; these can be used free of charge and on a voluntary basis.

Currently, specific ecological regulations apply only to beverage packaging (except for milk and dairy products). These aim to reduce waste, promote the recovery of beverage packaging where possible and avoid the use of unwanted packaging materials. The Ordinance on Beverage Containers contains the following regulations:

Packaging must not interfere with existing recycling systems for glass, PET beverage bottles, aluminium cans or tin cans
Reusable packaging is subject to a deposit and must be clearly marked as reusable
Manufacturers etc. who supply beverages in non-refillable PET or metal containers (aluminium or tin) must either make a financial contribution to an existing recycling organisation or take the containers back
Disposable packaging made of PVC is subject to a deposit
There is a minimum recycling target of 75% for glass, PET and aluminium packaging
Beverage and packaging quantities must be reported
There is a prepaid disposal fee on glass bottles

The amount of the prepaid disposal fee on glass bottles is defined in a separate ordinance.
Other regulations on packaging concern health protection, security, transport, customs, marking, etc. Packaging may also be subject to specific regulations depending on what it is meant to contain, e.g. foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, toxic or radioactive substances, compressed gases, explosives, fertilisers, agricultural products and agrochemicals, or disinfectants. These regulations appear in a large number of different legal texts, which must be referred to individually.

Additional regulations may be issued by cantonal or local authorities for their own area. Please apply to these authorities for more information.

3. Disposal paths and responsibilities

The Swiss regulations concerning packaging waste are comparatively limited, not least because the avoidance, recovery and disposal of such waste on a voluntary basis is working well, as exemplified by the generalised and cost-free separate collections of paper and cardboard, glass, PET beverage bottles, tin and aluminium cans. These are carried out in part by the municipal services, in part by private organisations. The other packaging waste (packages in composite materials) is disposed of along with the unsorted municipal waste in incineration plants with energy recovery. The responsibility lies with the cantons (LPE, art. 31b).

4. Financing

The costs of waste management are covered according to the polluter pays principle (LPE, art. 2). Prepaid disposal fees or a prepaid recycling contribution finance the recyclable elements, while for mixed solid waste, taxes are levied on the rubbish bags. Where packaging waste is concerned, only the prepaid disposal fee on glass bottles is at present prescribed by law. Voluntary systems set up by the private industry cater to the recovery of PET beverage bottles, aluminium and tin cans. Producers, importers and retailers contribute to these systems in that they generally refund the prepaid disposal fee levied on these products to the competent organisation without protest.

5. Life cycle assessment of beverage containers

In 2014, the FOEN published a study on the life cycle assessment of beverage containers. Since then, the methodology for conducting a life cycle assessment has changed. For this reason, the Swiss Association for Environmentally Sound Beverage Containers (SVUG), together with the Swiss Beverage Carton Recycling Association (Verein Getränkekarton-Recycling) and with the support of the FOEN, had the ecological impact of beverage containers analysed by using data from 2022 and applying the latest methodology. The results of the study show that lightweight, reusable packaging has a lower environmental impact than heavy packaging with low filling volumes. Different packaging systems are used depending on the type of beverage - there does not exist a single optimal packaging type that could be recommended for all kinds of beverages. Yet, the study concludes that there is potential for improvement regarding the environmental footprint in all sectors of the beverage industry. However, the greatest potential for reducing the environmental impact lies in the beverage production itself.