Der Grüne Punkt

A Pioneer of Closed-Cycle Economy

Der Grüne Punkt was founded in 1990 as the first dual system. As the first system of its kind worldwide, it has been providing nationwide collection of used sales packages and obtains raw materials from them for the closed-cycle economy. Today Der Grüne Punkt is a leading provider of take-back systems.

In order to liberate industrial firms and retailers from their individual take-back and recovery obligations under the German Packaging Ordinance, Der Grüne Punkt established a second (dual) disposal system besides the public-sector waste disposal service. As the first system of its kind worldwide, it has since 1991 been providing nationwide collection of used sales packages and obtains raw materials from them for the closed-cycle economy.

The Green Dot ('Der Grüne Punkt') is worldwide protected and one of the most widely used trademarks. In many countries it is used as a financing symbol for packaging recycling. Der Grüne Punkt is a founding member of the European Grüner Punkt umbrella organization PRO Europe.

Due to the continuous improvement of services and processes, we want to keep constantly more and more recyclable materials in closed cycles, thus contributing significantly to the conservation of environmental resources and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

Competence for secondary raw materials

Der Grüne Punkt is one of the largest commodity traders in Europe. It markets metals, glass, plastics, and other materials, mainly obtained from post-consumer collections. It also develops new methods and ways of recycling for the different materials.

Der Grüne Punkt specifications for sorted recyclable materials from household collections set the standard for the entire industry. Using these data, the audit teams of Der Grüne Punkt monitor the quality of the raw materials provided.

The manufacturing of Systalen – granules, compounds and other recycled materials from polyolefin plastics in premium quality – is grounded on this broad commodity Basis.