Dansk 
Date: September 29th 2025
The Danish government has reduced business costs related to the producer responsibility for packaging. This paves the way for Emballageretur to lower prices for its members once again. At the same time, a popular calculation tool is being relaunched, giving companies an overview of their costs and opportunities for savings based on packaging type, composition, and volume. Access to the tool – now called the Price Calculator – will be free for everyone, including non-members.
After years of negotiations and preparations, the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging is now close to taking effect. Along the way, it has been subject to heavy criticism from both businesses and industry associations, with price being the central issue.
The debate accelerated in August, when Emballageretur published its prices. Emballageretur’s prices proved highly competitive and highlighted how the former financial framework for producer responsibility had led to significant price differences between schemes.
In September, the government intervened to ease the financial burden on thousands of Danish companies. Among other measures, municipalities were required to lower their producer fees, which companies pay through the producer responsibility organisations. As a result, Emballageretur can now reduce its own prices. For example, the price of cardboard drops by 34% from DKK 2.99 to 1.96 per kg, while glass drops by 33% from DKK 3.69 to 2.47 per kg.
“As a non-profit, it is not Emballageretur’s role to profit from producer responsibility. Our task is to create the best possible conditions for our member companies. Both we and the business community have long called for fair prices and stable frameworks. With the government’s intervention, Emballageretur can now deliver on both: we are lowering prices and giving our members competitive rates and a real financial advantage, while at the same time ensuring responsible management of packaging waste,” says Morten Harboe-Jepsen, CEO of Emballageretur, part of the Retur group.
PRICE CALCULATOR RELAUNCHED – NOW FREE FOR ALL
Alongside the price reductions, Emballageretur is relaunching its popular calculation tool. Previously known as the Price Indicator, it will now be called the Price Calculator.
The tool was originally launched in September 2023 – long before concrete prices were set – as the first of its kind on the market. It quickly became a sought-after resource, giving companies a qualified estimate of their upcoming costs under producer responsibility.
With Emballageretur’s newly established prices, companies can now calculate their actual costs, test different scenarios – such as how switching from plastic to cardboard affects expenses – and use the tool actively in both budgeting and packaging strategy. The Price Calculator is available free of charge to all Danish companies, members, and non-members alike.
“The new Price Calculator gives companies the transparency they have been asking for and becomes a practical decision-making tool. It makes it possible to create realistic budgets and see how changes in packaging choices affect overall costs. But this is only the beginning. As producer responsibility now comes into force, the bigger goal is to reduce packaging volumes and use resources more intelligently. Here, the Price Calculator can be an important driver for companies,” says Morten Harboe-Jepsen.
FACTS ON PRICES:
| ADJUSTED PRICES FROM EMBALLAGERETUR | ||
| FOR COMPANIES WITH AMOUNTS OVER 8 TONS OF PACKAGING PER YEAR (DKK PER KG) | ||
| HOUSHOLD PACKAGING | NEW PRICES | OLD PRICES |
| Cardboard | 1,96 | 2,99 |
| Paper | 0,11 | 0,14 |
| Aluminium | 4,03 | 6,94 |
| Ferrous metals | 4,03 | 6,94 |
| Glass | 2,47 | 3,69 |
| Soft plastics | 4,11 | 5,16 |
| Hard plastics | 4,11 | 5,16 |
| Foam plastics | 4,11 | 5,16 |
| Hard PET | 4,11 | 5,16 |
| Food- and beverage cartons | 5,62 | 8,97 |
| Wood | 0,2 | 0,2 |
| Hazardous packaging | 4,61 | 5,74 |
| Textiles | 0,2 | 0,2 |
| Porcelain | 0,2 | 0,2 |
| Cork | 0,2 | 0,2 |
| Ceramics | 0,2 | 0,2 |
| Other | 4,31 | 5,22 |
| Under 8 ton | 4,52 | 6,83 |
FACTS ABOUT THE PRICE CALCULATOR:
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Launched: First version in September 2023, as the first tool of its kind on the market.
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Purpose: To give companies a quick and clear overview of their costs under producer responsibility for packaging.
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How it works: Companies enter their own data on packaging volumes and materials, and the tool calculates expected expenses (for operational costs incl. administration).
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Scenarios: The tool allows simulations of different packaging choices – e.g. the cost impact of switching from plastic to cardboard.
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From estimate to real-time: Originally provided estimates, but with the new set prices, it now shows companies their actual costs.
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Availability: Free for all. Available at https://emballageretur.dk/en/
