The Federal Cartel Office Approves Reusable System in Plant Trade to Cut Down on Plastic Waste

Summary:

The German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) has stated that it has no significant concerns about a planned joint system for reusable plant trays in the horticultural industry. The system, proposed by Euro Plant Tray eG, aims to reduce plastic waste in the industry by replacing traditional single-use trays with reusable ones. The Bundeskartellamt considered that the project is not only environmentally friendly but also compatible with competition law. The agency highlighted that the company's data exchange and coordination between market participants were limited and did not raise competition concerns. Furthermore, participation in the system is voluntary, and all market participants, including non-members, can join. This decision is an example of the Bundeskartellamt's support for sustainable initiatives that comply with competition law.