The FLUSTIX blog

News from the plastic-free market and research

flustix Update: 2025 1620 1080 Flustix
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flustix Update: 2025

Dear flustix Community, 2025 marks a real shift: sustainability is no longer a moral add-on but a measurable economic advantage. With PPWR implementation approaching, EmpCo reshaping communication, and SUPD/GCD gaining precision, companies increasingly realise that scientifically robust, transparent claims deliver both credibility and financial benefit. flustix has responded with focus and momentum: new international certifications,…

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Renowned Companies Across Diverse Industries Choose Independent flustix Certifications 1620 1080 Flustix
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Renowned Companies Across Diverse Industries Choose Independent flustix Certifications

The flustix community continues to grow: In 2025, strong brands, international manufacturers and specialized packaging companies are once again joining our movement. They all pursue the same goal: less plastic, more circularity, and credible, secure sustainability communication — fully aligned with EmpCo, the Green Claims Directive, the SUPD and the PPWR requirements. Since the last…

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The flustix network continues to grow – efficient certification, strong service, expert advisory & clear results 1620 1080 Flustix
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The flustix network continues to grow – efficient certification, strong service, expert advisory & clear results

Since the last update in December 2024, flustix has further expanded its international partner network. Companies are currently facing major regulatory shifts – PPWR, EmpCo, national plastic taxes and bonus systems. As a result, the need for reliable verification, standardised testing methods and fast certification continues to rise. flustix is responding with new partners, increased…

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Opinion: SUPD at a turning point: Four years of legal uncertainty now require clear rules 1620 1080 Flustix
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Opinion: SUPD at a turning point: Four years of legal uncertainty now require clear rules

The SUPD has reached a point, four years and four months into practical application, where uncertainty is slowing innovation. Now is the moment to refine the directive scientifically – and finally provide Europe with a clear, practical polymer threshold. Why Europe now needs a clear polymer threshold – and why the SUPD cannot function without…

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Certifying with flustix RECYCLED – Save Tax & Benefit from Bonuses 1620 1080 Flustix
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Certifying with flustix RECYCLED – Save Tax & Benefit from Bonuses

France will pay high bonuses for recycled content starting in 2026, while Spain is already reducing the tax burden for companies via its plastic tax. The decisive factor: only certified recycled content will be recognised. With flustix RECYCLED, you secure PPWR compliance, financial advantages – and full regulatory certainty. Cash for Circularity – how independent…

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Editorial 1620 1080 Flustix
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Editorial

Dear flustix Community, 2025 marks a turning point: it is finally becoming clear that genuine sustainability is not only an obligation, but a source of tangible economic advantage – enabling reliable claims, more efficient internal processes, and immediate financial benefits. As the PPWR moves towards implementation and the EmpCo is already reshaping sustainability communication, the…

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EmpCo: greenwashing comes to an end – courts already rule firmly 1536 1024 Flustix
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EmpCo: greenwashing comes to an end – courts already rule firmly

Europe is restructuring its sustainability claims: EmpCo creates clarity, courts are following suit – and for the first time, real financial benefits emerge for companies with robust evidence. Those who document cleanly today will gain credibility, efficiency and budget advantages tomorrow. EmpCo creates clear rules and new financial opportunities The 27 EU Member States are…

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A clear course instead of constant shifts: Why reliability is now essential 2560 1707 Flustix
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A clear course instead of constant shifts: Why reliability is now essential

No inconsistent, unreliable or opportunistic politics – we need a clear course for nature, the climate, and the economy. Turning away from the Green Deal would cause far greater long-term harm than any short-term relief it may seem to offer. Since the launch of the European Green Deal in 2019, companies worldwide have invested billions…

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Changes to sustainability communication – EmpCo applies from 2026 1536 1024 Flustix
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Changes to sustainability communication – EmpCo applies from 2026

The EmpCo (Empowering Consumers for a Green Transition) will apply from 2026 – the 27 EU Member States are getting ready for its implementation. Leading industrial nations are translating the new Green Claims rules into practice, with the first concrete legislative texts already published. Read on to learn more about the requirements for upcoming EmpCo-compliant…

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New Database on flustix.com 1012 410 Flustix
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New Database on flustix.com

The flustix Certification Database: A Milestone for Sustainable Shopping and Green Claims Directive Compliance We are thrilled to introduce our redesigned and centralised flustix database for all flustix-licensed goods, now accessible at flustix.com/certified. This innovative platform is not only a leap forward in terms of user-friendliness, filter options, and accessibility but also fully aligns with…

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Home Compostable? 1024 415 Flustix
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Home Compostable?

Controversial Discussion on “Home Compostable” Claims for To-Go Packaging The idea sounds almost too good to be true: packaging that, after just a few minutes of use, can simply be thrown away, dissolving into pure water and fresh oxygen, leaving behind nothing but excellent compost… Perhaps the packaging might even taste as good as its…

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flustix Update 2024: Successful Refinement of Claims 1012 410 Flustix
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flustix Update 2024: Successful Refinement of Claims

As part of the revision of the flustix certification programmes, the claims have been refined, and essential additional information has been directly integrated into the seals. The new claim, “flustix LESS PLASTICS – MIN. xx% PLASTIC-FREE”, not only provides licensees with the highest level of security but also ensures future-oriented compliance with recently implemented and…

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flustix for White-Label Producers & Brand Owners 1012 410 Flustix
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flustix for White-Label Producers & Brand Owners

The flustix Sublicensing System Simple, Transparent, Practical, and Future-Proof The flustix sublicensing system provides companies with a convenient way to transfer certification from the original producer to the private label. White-label manufacturers and private label distributors benefit especially: they can equip their end products with individual license numbers without the need for additional lab tests…

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flustix Expands Global Certification Capacities 1012 410 Flustix
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flustix Expands Global Certification Capacities

More Partners, Greater Efficiency, Enhanced Service & Sustainability Since 2017, flustix has been meeting the requirements of the upcoming Green Claims Directive (GCD) as an independent third-party certification body. flustix offers reliable, comprehensive services and a foundation for transparent and compliant sustainability communication. With a strong network of accredited certification partners and recognised laboratories, flustix…

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Update to flustix Certification Programmes 1024 410 Flustix
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Update to flustix Certification Programmes

For YOUR Security: Revised Standards for Enhanced Compliance (EPR) Implementation of Current and Upcoming Regulations The flustix team and its international partners have spent the last 20 months intensively revising the flustix certification programmes to align with the latest global and European regulations, directives, and standards. These include, among others: • The Packaging and Packaging…

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flustix Update 2024 1012 410 Flustix
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flustix Update 2024

Renowned Companies Trust flustix Certifications The flustix certification has long been an internationally recognised standard and benchmark for compliant communication of reduced plastic impact. In 2024, the flustix community has continued to grow, with numerous prominent companies and global players successfully meeting strict criteria and certifying their products. The expansion of the flustix community highlights…

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Expert warns: Retail chains drive recycling companies into bankruptcy 1920 768 flustix
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Expert warns: Retail chains drive recycling companies into bankruptcy

German recycling companies are under pressure: the sharp rise in production costs is offset by a consistently high price for used PET bottles and flakes. The reason is obvious: despite increased prices for crude oil, fresh plastic is still cheaper than recycled material. For example, one metric ton of PET for packaging cost 1450 euros…

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Sustainability seals are the most important source of information when shopping 1920 768 flustix
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Sustainability seals are the most important source of information when shopping

The trend reversal in shopping has obviously arrived at shopping baskets. According to a recent survey, the majority of consumers now pay attention to sustainability when selecting products. The most important decision-making aids are credible certificates and seals. Six out of ten consumers always or at least frequently pay attention to the ecological, economic or…

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How plastic-free is Veganuary? Retailer tests a new method to avoid packaging waste 1920 768 flustix
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How plastic-free is Veganuary? Retailer tests a new method to avoid packaging waste

By Carsten Gensing The vegan boom is not coming to an end: According to the latest surveys, the number of consumers of vegan foods continues to rise sharply. The development is fueled by the Veganuary. The vegan new year challenge runs at present on full speed. One thing is certain: vegan nutrition is more sustainable…

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On the Baltic coast, an initiative is working hard to create the first plastic-free city in Germany 1920 768 flustix
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On the Baltic coast, an initiative is working hard to create the first plastic-free city in Germany

By our author Carsten Gensing From the far north comes an initiative with spectacular goals: A former caterer and his team are working hard to realize the vision of a plastic-free city in their homeland. The initiative’s approach is as simple as it is promising: They are achieving measurable success with an everyday tool, and…

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Fruit madness: German supermarket chain sells Chineese grapefruits sealed in plastic 1920 768 flustix
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Fruit madness: German supermarket chain sells Chineese grapefruits sealed in plastic

Citrus fruits are important in winter: the high vitamin C content helps us prevent and relieve colds. The pink pomelo, also called the “Chinese grapefruit”, promises a particularly high vitamin content. Most of the pomelos offered in Germany in winter come from China, which in itself is a problem. Transporting fresh fruit over such a…

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This is how the mandatory offering of reusable packaging works 1920 768 flustix
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This is how the mandatory offering of reusable packaging works

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection explains the most important rules of the new law. Reusable alternative must not be more expensive than disposable “Restaurants, bistros and cafés that sell food on the go will be required to offer their products in both disposable and reusable packaging from 2023. A reusable…

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The right to repair? How Apple is trying to undermine the new EU law 953 375 flustix
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The right to repair? How Apple is trying to undermine the new EU law

ATTITUDE WITH BISS At the start of the new mandatory reusable offer for food and beverage containers, we have to state after a few days: The thing runs sluggishly. The efforts of most catering establishments to get the cycle going are limited. Consumer demand seems to be low at the moment. No wonder, who would…

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The new reusable cup law in a practical test: How are things going with the new deposit cups at a train station, Mcdonald’s, and Burger King? 1920 768 flustix
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The new reusable cup law in a practical test: How are things going with the new deposit cups at a train station, Mcdonald’s, and Burger King?

The new mandatory offering of reusable packaging has been in force since January 1, 2023. Businesses must now offer consumers reusable alternatives for food and beverages they take home. How does that work? We from flustix have looked around and made a first practical test. At Dunkin’ Donuts, the disposable cup rules The lobby of…

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Putting an end to throwaway fashion: How France is countering the fast-fashion craze 1920 768 flustix
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Putting an end to throwaway fashion: How France is countering the fast-fashion craze

The trend is unbroken: With ever new collections for little money, international cheap fashion producers are firing up the clothing market. The result: textiles are often of inferior quality, short-lived and unsuitable for recycling. The social aspects are also devastating: The seamstresses in the Asian production countries are treated and paid inhumane – which is…

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Why don’t people in the fitness center generate electricity when they exercise? 1920 768 flustix
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Why don’t people in the fitness center generate electricity when they exercise?

To slow down the climate catastrophe, we need more green electricity, there are no two opinions. Wind power plays a significant role. Photovoltaics is becoming more and more effective and important, especially in private households, significant savings can be achieved. But what about kinetic energy, that is, energy of motion? If we can generate electricity…

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Independently certified: start-up develops plastic alternative from plastic-free raw material 1920 768 flustix
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Independently certified: start-up develops plastic alternative from plastic-free raw material

INNOVATIONS This innovation is causing a stir: The Hamburg-based start-up traceless has developed a plastic-free alternative to plastic and bioplastics. The new material is bio-based but does not consume any food resources; instead, it is made from plant residues from the agricultural industry. Well-known corporations are cooperating with traceless. These include the online retailer OTTO…

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Fast fashion madness: What Greenpeace discovers in cheap children’s fashion from the world’s largest online retailer is appalling 1920 768 flustix
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Fast fashion madness: What Greenpeace discovers in cheap children’s fashion from the world’s largest online retailer is appalling

Fast fashion is one of the biggest environmental sins that happens every day and is uncontrolled on our planet: Hundreds of thousands of pieces of low-quality textiles are put into circulation every day. In particular, one Chinese online giant is dumping the cheapest textiles, primarily on children and young people. The environmental organization Greenpeace calls…

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The best second-hand markets for Christmas gifts 1920 768 flustix
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The best second-hand markets for Christmas gifts

Millions of Germans now buy, sell and swap their used items – sometimes quite classically at the flea market or online via Internet marketplaces. flustix explains where to find the best clothes, toys, electronics, books or even stuffed animals on the Internet – and shares a few gift ideas. Secondhand, still good: skates, baby toys,…

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German start-up invents method to recycle polyester from textiles 953 375 flustix
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German start-up invents method to recycle polyester from textiles

INNOVATIONS Polyester-containing blended textiles are widespread, but also problematic – because until now, there has been no practical way to separate and recycle blended fabrics. That could now change: A German start-up has for the first time presented a technology that can be used to produce new polyester yarn from used clothing. “This is a…

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The flustix top 5 2022: pain in the neck of the nation, bags from grass, solid shampoos, and a phenomenon that really annoys everyone 1920 768 flustix
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The flustix top 5 2022: pain in the neck of the nation, bags from grass, solid shampoos, and a phenomenon that really annoys everyone

Since April 2022 the flustix newsletter is published – since then we are happy about new subscribers and your growing interest every month. Thank you! At the end of the year, we would like to share our favorite stories from 2022 with you. Here are the top five stories of the flustix editorial team. 5.…

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Toilet paper without a cardboard sleeve: Ingenious climate-saving coup or cheap greenwashing? 1920 768 flustix
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Toilet paper without a cardboard sleeve: Ingenious climate-saving coup or cheap greenwashing?

It sounds brilliant at first: toilet paper king Zewa produces toilet paper without a cardboard sleeve – and thus promises “40 percent less waste”. The technology is conceivably simple: the paper is simply rolled around itself. “Zewa Smart” has “twice as many sheets on the roll”, in the end “no waste remains”. We ask ourselves:…

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The flustix forecast for 2023: more innovations, fight against greenwashing, less packaging 1920 768 flustix
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The flustix forecast for 2023: more innovations, fight against greenwashing, less packaging

ATTITUDE WITH BISS The EU Commission has launched a strengthening of the Packaging Regulation. A really big thing, bold and ambitious. The central innovations: The proportion of primary raw materials in packaging material is to be drastically reduced and replaced by recyclates. Very good! The greenwashing with so-called bioplastics should be stopped, and the production…

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New EU packaging regulation: The effects are particularly drastic for shopping and traveling 1920 768 flustix
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New EU packaging regulation: The effects are particularly drastic for shopping and traveling

The EU is putting on pressure: waste-intensive packaging is to be banned, reusable and recycling solutions massively promoted – for this, the responsible Commission has proposed a revision of the EU guidelines for packaging waste. Certain packaging, which was previously taken for granted in our everyday lives, will even be banned altogether in the future.…

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Greenwashing and microplastics alarm: the German World Cup jersey business failed completely 1920 768 flustix
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Greenwashing and microplastics alarm: the German World Cup jersey business failed completely

The German national team has already bowed out of the World Cup in Qatar after the preliminary round – an embarrassment for fans, and an economic disaster for the sponsor Adidas. The World Cup is usually a booster for the lucrative business with Germany’s jerseys. This year, however, everything went wrong. Even before the team…

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Secondhand for Christmas? Nine reasons why used gifts bring joy 1920 768 flustix
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Secondhand for Christmas? Nine reasons why used gifts bring joy

You want to conserve resources, escape the Christmas rush and also save money? Then try secondhand Christmas gifts. Having a hard time with that? Then read through these nine reasons. By our author Ulrike Seidel 1. Pre-owned gifts often have that certain something. It may sound surprising, but second-hand gifts are often more original and…

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Christmas 2022: Second-hand is in full trend 953 375 flustix
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Christmas 2022: Second-hand is in full trend

By our author Ulrike Seidel The neighbor’s child’s used bicycle, a puzzle from Ebay classifieds or grandpa’s old violin – many parents will put a secondhand gift under the Christmas tree this year. To save money, protect the environment and because it might feel a bit like the old days. But are secondhand toys really…

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Climate crisis: Why are we looking away, even though we can still prevent the catastrophe? 1920 768 flustix
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Climate crisis: Why are we looking away, even though we can still prevent the catastrophe?

The Netflix movie “Don’t Look Up” is polarizing. If you look at the various rating portals on the Internet, you will notice that there are only a few differentiated ratings – but the number of top and flop ratings is high in each case. This phenomenon also describes the state of our society. While some…

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Microplastic-free, no particulate matter: ZEDU-1 to become the greenest car of all time 1920 768 flustix
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Microplastic-free, no particulate matter: ZEDU-1 to become the greenest car of all time

Cars keep on being major polluters: Not only exhaust gases, but also particulate matter and microplastic emissions are among the causes of mobility-related environmental pollution. A prototype designed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is intended to remedy this situation: Together with two specialist companies, the institute has developed a vehicle that could become the…

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Five pieces of news that give hope that we can still save the climate 1920 768 flustix
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Five pieces of news that give hope that we can still save the climate

The daily news about extreme weather disasters, deadly forest fires, melting glaciers and climate crisis denying heads of state are inflationary and disillusioning – we from flustix therefore also look at the positive things. Here are five pieces of news that give us hope that our efforts for a better world are worthwhile. Measures against…

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Lost in the label jungle? How (un)familiar green labels really are 1920 768 flustix
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Lost in the label jungle? How (un)familiar green labels really are

Bio and vegan, MSC and Oekotex: on the yogurt pot, the sock wrapper or the glass cleaner – small colorful sustainability seals are now plastered everywhere, often even several next to each other. Can anyone still see through all this? The news portal Utopia, which specializes in sustainability, asked 3002 participants online for a label…

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Greenpeace trackers expose illegal waste exports from Germany 1920 768 flustix
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Greenpeace trackers expose illegal waste exports from Germany

Do German companies continue to export plastic waste to Turkey and Southeast Asia despite the ban? Research by Greenpeace suggests that they do: using trackers, the environmental protection organization has followed plastic waste shipments from Germany. About a third of the samples ended up abroad. One trail leads to Turkey With the hidden tracking devices,…

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Acting ecologically and socially: flustix joins the German Sustainable Business Association 1920 768 flustix
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Acting ecologically and socially: flustix joins the German Sustainable Business Association

Ecology, social issues and economic efficiency belong together: This is proven by the German Sustainable Business Association BNW. Founded in 1992, the association differs from other classic business associations. Because the acting boards are not employees of the association, but personally liable partners, managing directors or owners of their own companies. What does the association…

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Greenwashing? Customer sues the fast-fashion giant H&M 1920 768 flustix
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Greenwashing? Customer sues the fast-fashion giant H&M

The Swedish fashion company H&M is facing a serious lawsuit in the USA. The accusation of a customer: Greenwashing. H&M had falsely declared the sustainability of its garments and therefore caused economic damage to the plaintiff. This was reported by the weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT in its anti-greenwashing column. The case had already been revealed…

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Sustainability? When it comes to making one’s own contribution, the mind goes blank 1920 768 flustix
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Sustainability? When it comes to making one’s own contribution, the mind goes blank

ATTITUDE WITH BISS The epitome of a waste of time are discussions with stubborn climate change deniers about the climate crisis. Apart from irrefutable scientific findings, one’s own eyes, combined with a minimal portion of intellect, are enough to understand: All of the worn-out descriptions from five to 12 to five past 12 no longer…

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Packaging industry celebrates a green trade show – but how sustainable and innovative is Fachpack? 1920 768 flustix
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Packaging industry celebrates a green trade show – but how sustainable and innovative is Fachpack?

SUMMARY For flustix on site at the fair: Xenia Kersten, Malte Biss and Krzysztof Babel. The Fachpack is the most important trade fair for the packaging industry in Europe. The flustix team was on site, looked around for three days, and now draws a conclusion: The color green dominates, the transformation of the industry is…

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Why do we have too little waste paper, even though the garbage cans are always overflowing? 1920 768 flustix
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Why do we have too little waste paper, even though the garbage cans are always overflowing?

15 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Our “pet” is black on the bottom and blue on top. When we travel, it must be cared for, guarded and moved by dear neighbors. It is our paper garbage can. It is emptied only once a month. If that should go wrong just once, we will sink into cardboard chaos:…

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After deposit bottles, now come deposit bags: Start-up launches smart reusable system for mail order business 1920 768 flustix
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After deposit bottles, now come deposit bags: Start-up launches smart reusable system for mail order business

INNOVATIONS The mail order business is booming, despite the economic crisis, several million packages are sent through Germany every day. In 2021, there were a total of almost four billion shipments of goods – a record. As a result, unimaginable amounts of packaging waste have to be disposed of. The cluttered waste paper containers are…

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We need plastic – up to a certain limit that we must not exceed 1920 768 flustix
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We need plastic – up to a certain limit that we must not exceed

ATTITUDE WITH BISS I recently read something about an impressive comparison on the subject of plastic. Between the years 1950 and 2015, 8.3 billion tons of plastic were produced worldwide. That equates to more than a ton for every person currently living on the planet. One ton of plastic for every person in the world…

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Independent certificates strengthen quality assurance for recyclates in the automotive industry 1920 768 flustix
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Independent certificates strengthen quality assurance for recyclates in the automotive industry

FLUSTIX IN THE MEDIA What about the use of recyclates in automotive construction? The trade magazine PLASTVERARBEITER asked industry experts about this – and gives an overview of the areas in which recyclates are already increasingly used. 27 components of the Audi Q4 E-Tron are made from industrial production waste Not only the drive system,…

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