Waste separation symbols help your customers to separate waste

Label your packaging now with the free,
easy-to-understand waste sorting information.

A label that explains waste separation and can be used by any registered distributor

85 percent of your costumers in Germany would like to see standardised waste separation labels on packaging, according to a recent survey*. Respond to this wish for more information: We provide you with free waste sorting labels in flexible design variants for printing on your packaging. They show at a glance how to dispose of the packaging correctly.

The waste sorting symbols are effective, as a recent survey* shows: packaging labelled with these symbols is more likely to be disposed of correctly by consumers than packaging without the symbol – on average almost twice as often.

The free-of-charge waste sorting labels may be used by any distributor registered with the German Central Agency Packaging Register (Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister ZSVR).

* Survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Trennhinweis e. V.

These brands are already using the waste sorting label:

Flexible design options for better waste separation

The more information provided, the better the packaging waste is sorted, a recent YouGov survey shows. Therefore, the single-colour basic layout may be modified for your packaging to provide your customers with additional information about proper disposal. Optionally, specified colors and text may be added to the basic layout. For further information about this waste sorting label, please see the style guide below.

In addition to the waste sorting labels QR codes can optionally be used, which forward to short films with supplementary information and consumer tips.

* Survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Trennhinweis e. V.

QR codes for more information

QR codes can be additionally printed on the packaging together with the waste sorting labels. By scanning the QR code, consumers can access brief information videos on correct waste separation.

This digital information service is particularly popular with the younger generation: according to a recent survey*, more than 50 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds in Germany would like to see explanatory QR codes on packaging in addition to the separation labels.

Overall, six different short films are made available free of charge.

If requested, these short movies may be individualised, e.g. with specific packaging examples or integration of the corporate design, as in the example of STYLEX. If you are interested, please contact us at film@trenn-hinweis.de.

* survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Trennhinweis e. V.

Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingYellow bin
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardRed bin
GlassGreen/white bin
MetalYellow bin or blue bin, if available
Biodegradable wasteBrown bin
Residual wasteBlack bin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingBlue bin
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardYellow bin
GlassGreen bin
MetalBag
Biodegradable wasteBrown bin
Residual wasteGrey/black bin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingCollection points / yellow containers
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBlue containers / collection points
GlassGreen contaners / collection points
Metal Collection points / yellow containers
Biodegradable wasteBrown containers
Residual wasteContainers
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingYellow bin / decentralised municipal responsibility
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBlue bin / decentralised municipal responsibility
GlassGreen bin / "Green Island" in Zagreb /decentralised municipal responsibility
MetalYellow bin / decentralised municipal responsibility
Biodegradable wasteBrown bin / private composting / decentralised municipal responsibility
Residual wasteGreen or black bin / decentralised municiapl responsibility
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingContainer islands (yellow bin), door-to-door system, collection points
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardContainer islands (blue bin), door-to-do system, collection points
GlassContainer islands (green bin), collection points
MetalCollection points, container islands (grey bin or yellow bin)
Biodegradable wasteContainer islands (brown bin), door-to-door system, collection points, composters in households
Residual wasteBlack bin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingDecentralised municipal responsibility
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardDecentralised municipal responsibility
GlassDecentralised municipal responsibility
MetalDecentralised municipal responsibility
Biodegradable wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Residual wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingDecentralised municipal responsibility
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardDecentralised municipal responsibility
GlassDecentralised municipal responsibility
MetalDecentralised municipal responsibility
Biodegradable wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Residual wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingYellow sorting bin / collection points
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardYellow sorting bin / collection points
GlassGreen glass container / collection points
MetalYellow sorting bin / collection points
Biodegradable wasteBin
Residual wasteResidual bin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingBlue bin
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBlue bin
GlassBlue bin
MetalBlue bin
Biodegradable wasteNot available
Residual wasteGreen bin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingBag / collection points
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBag / collection points
GlassBag / collection points
MetalBag / collection points
Biodegradable wasteNot available
Residual wasteBin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingDecentralised municipal responsibility
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardDecentralised municipal responsibility
GlassDecentralised municipal responsibility
MetalDecentralised municipal responsibility
Biodegradable wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Residual wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingContainer island
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardContainer island
GlassContainer island
MetalContainer island
Biodegradable wasteBin / collection points
Residual wasteBin / collection points
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingContainer island
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardContainer island
GlassContainer island
MetalContainer island
Biodegradable wasteBin / collection points
Residual wasteBin / collection points
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingDecentralised municipal responsibility
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardDecentralised municipal responsibility
GlassDecentralised municipal responsibility
MetalDecentralised municipal responsibility
Biodegradable wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Residual wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingYellow bin
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBlue bin
GlassContainer island
MetalContainer island
Biodegradable wasteNot available
Residual wasteBlack bin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingYellow bin / container island
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBlue bin / container island
GlassGreen bin / container island
MetalCollection points
Biodegradable wasteBin / collection points
Residual wasteBin / collection points
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingYellow bin / container island
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBlue bin / container island
GlassYellow bin / container island
MetalYellow bin / container island
Biodegradable wasteBin / collection points
Residual wasteBin / collection points
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingBin for recylable materials
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBin for recylable materials
GlassBin for recylable materials
MetalBin for recylable materials
Biodegradable wasteNot available
Residual wasteBin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingBin / container island
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBin / container island
GlassBin / container island
MetalBin / container island
Biodegradable wasteBin / collection points
Residual wasteBin / collection points
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingYellow bin / black bin with yellow lid / decentralised municipal responsibility
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBlue bin / black bin with blue lid / "Green Island" /decentralised municipal responsibility
GlassGrey bin / black bin with green lid / "Green Island" / decentralised municipal responsibility
MetalYellow bin / black bin with yellow lid / decentralised municipal responsibility
Biodegradable wasteBrown bin / private composting / decentralised municipal responsibility
Residual wasteBlack bin/ grey bin / decentralised municipal responsibility
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingDecentralised municipal responsibility / yellow bin
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardDecentralised municipal responsibility / blue bin
GlassDecentralised municipal responsibility / green bin
MetalDecentralised municipal responsibility / yellow bin
Biodegradable wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility
Residual wasteDecentralised municipal responsibility / brown or black bin
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingBin / container
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardBin / container
GlassBin / container
MetalBin / container
Biodegradable wasteBin / container
Residual wasteBin / container
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingYellow bag / Yellow bin / Collection points
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardCollection points
GlassContainer / Collection points
MetalBlue bin / Collection points
Biodegradable wasteGreen Bin / Collection points
Residual wasteBin / container
Type of wasteCollection system
Plastics / Composite PackagingNot available
Paper, Cardboard and PaperboardNot available
GlassNot available
MetalNot available
Biodegradable wasteNot available
Residual wasteNot available

Great care was taken in compiling the contents of the list of municipal waste collection systems in the European Union. However, we cannot assume responsibility for the correctness or completeness of the information provided and cannot guarantee that the information is up-to-date.

Internationality

Manufacturers and distributors registered with the German Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) may print the free waste sorting labels onto packaging distributed in and outside of Germany.

The modular structure of the waste sorting label and the various design options enable manufacturers to motivate and provide information to consumers in and outside of Germany by adding freely selectable text elements – for example in English: “Separate waste correctly”.

QR code movies are displayed in such a way that consumers outside Germany see a English short film after scanning than users in Germany. A country-specific module also shows how waste is disposed of correctly in the respective EU country.

These companies are already using the packaging label:

Customer information

The free waste sorting label allows you to show your responsibility for your product to consumers transparently in compliance with your registration obligations (under Section 9 of the German Packaging Act [Verpackgungsgesetz]). According to a recent survey, the majority of your customers would prefer uniform symbols for correct waste separation instead of solo efforts in packaging labelling.

Assist your customers with their legal obligations: The German Packaging Act requires private end-consumers (Section 13 of the German Packaging Act) to dispose of packaging separately from other waste. However, according to a recent study*, nearly 60% of customers lack the specific knowledge for disposing of used packaging properly.

This is where our free waste sorting label on packaging comes in by easily explaining to your customers at first glance how to properly dispose of used packaging.

* Survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Trennhinweis e. V.; online survey by Kantar GmbH for the dual systems

Conserving resources and protecting the environment together

Unfortunately, waste is still often sorted incorrectly: For example, on average, 30% of waste in yellow sacks and yellow containers does not belong there. This makes recycling packaging significantly more difficult and sometimes impossible.

Packaging recycling can save millions of tons of primary raw materials and several million tons of CO2 today.

That the waste sorting labels can help to bring more packaging waste into the cycle confirms a recent survey*: 85 percent of those surveyed would at first glance place packaging with a separation label with a yellow and blue arrow in the yellow container or bag and in the paper bin, respectively.

* survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Trennhinweis e. V.

How it works:

Prepare

  • Read our contract of use
  • Enter your German Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) registration number
  • Add your company’s name and address
  • Specify your company’s contact person

Conclude the contract of use

  • Check entries
  • Conclude contract of use

Download waste sorting label

  • All relevant documents, incl. the download link for the waste sorting label, will be sent to the specified email address

Help your customers sort waste correctly and label your packaging with the free waste sorting labels!