GERMANY – Following Germany’s decision to introduce a deposit for one-way packages in January 2003, it now appears ecological groups could force the government to apply a similar law for drinks cartons.

The move could have a heavy impact on consumers of milk and other dairy drinks, possibly pushing the price for a litre carton of milk up by as much as 25 euro cents per litre, a rise of 35%.

Despite the fact that the deposit would be reclaimable, the industry fears that it would still affect sales.

The suggested deposit law would have an especially large impact in Germany, where cartons for dairy drinks are firmly established.

Over 95% of drinking milk sells in 0.5 litre, one litre and 1.5 litre cartons, with its share of milk packaging rising by a steady average of 1% a year.