Dansk Retursystem reports high return rates for attached plastic caps

Following the 2024 implementation of the EU single-use plastics directive, the return rate for attached plastic caps in Denmark's deposit system has risen significantly. New data from Dansk Retursystem shows that 99.73% of plastic caps remain attached to bottles when consumers return them for recycling, up from 90% prior to the mandate.

In 2025, approximately 680 million plastic caps were collected, an increase of about 56 million compared to 2024. Hanne Svenningsen, climate and environment manager at Dansk Retursystem, noted that improved lid designs, which allow consumers to easily push them aside, have contributed to this success.

While the bottles themselves are recycled into new food-grade beverage packaging within a closed loop, the caps are currently repurposed into lower-quality plastic products. Achieving a circular loop for the caps themselves—recycling them into new lids—requires further approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to ensure they meet food-contact standards.