The calm before the storm?

By: Jeszenszki Lívia Date: 2024. 04. 26. 11:33

The first returnable plastic, aluminium and glass drink containers have appeared on stores shelves, as the deposit return scheme (DRS) has been launched in Hungary. 3,000 Re-Pont reverse vending machines are switched on and waiting to be used by shoppers.

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Guest writer:
Lívia Jeszenszki
managing director
Reál Hungária

What happened next is just what we expected: manufacturers are taking advantage of the six-month grace period and – with a few exceptions – are starting to repackage products only at the last minute. Rationality has prevailed over sustainability goals. Retailers are trying to stock up on products in packaging without a return fee, hoping that price-sensitive consumers will go to the shops where drinks are cheaper during the transitional period.

Meanwhile hard work is being done in the background: recruiting voluntary and manual return points (concession company MOHU also has to provide return service in smaller municipalities), product registrations, software development – not only at MOHU but also at retailers on the checkout software, etc. We expect a mass packaging changeover and a load test of the whole system in the third quarter of the year. The aim is noble: to achieve 90% beverage packaging recovery, as has already been done in other countries. Go MOHU and I wish perseverance and patience to the return points! //

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