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EU’s Tethered Bottle Caps Draw Ongoing Consumer Complaints One Year After Mandate

Manufacturers have invested millions to retrofit equipment following the mandate.

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Overview

  • Approximately 63% of consumers surveyed by the Nürnberger Institut für Marktentscheidungen find tethered caps less practical than traditional closures and only 12% report no issues.
  • Around 23% of respondents say they drink less directly from bottles with tethered caps and 20% avoid those products altogether.
  • Only one-third of consumers see environmental benefits in the new design and the Verband Deutscher Mineralbrunnen argues the rule addresses a problem that did not exist.
  • Consumer complaints have declined since the initial rollout and overall purchasing patterns have largely remained stable.
  • Beverage producers have completed significant factory upgrades at a cost in the millions to ensure compliance with the July 2024 regulation.