Kaufland has denied plans to bypass Poland’s deposit system, pulling a 3.001‑liter bottle from shelves, while a minister condemned the move as anti‑Polish contrivance.
Kaufland Denies Intent to Evade Deposit System
On Thursday, Gazeta.pl received an official statement from Kaufland. “Our goal has never been and will never be to circumvent the deposit system. The appearance of this offer was a mistake, not part of our strategy,” the company said.
The statement notes that the scale of any sale of that particular bottled product would be marginal compared to the entire beverage range, and that if it could even slightly promote eco‑friendly solutions involving the deposit system, it would contradict the network’s foundational ideals.
Kaufland announced the immediate removal of the product from sale and pledged a robust implementation of the deposit system, with minimal manual collection limited to a few stores.
Minister Calls Packaging a “Pure Anti‑Polish Contrivance”
Polish Deputy Finance Minister Jan Szyszko described the packaging as “pure anti‑Polish contrivance,” citing the 3.001‑liter bottle—one milliliter larger than the deposit‑eligible volume—as an example of avoidance.
He added that the bottle, offered for over twenty years before the deposit system discussion, is not novel and is sold in Poland and abroad.
Szyszko warned that such actions merely divert deposit income away from honest consumers and green‑technology firms, labeling the strategy as simple evasion rather than innovation.
Bottle Size and Market History
The bottle carries a 3.001‑liter capacity, slightly exceeding the 3‑liter threshold of the new deposit scheme. “It is just one option we offer consumers,” the official said, noting the range from 0.33 L to 18.9 L.
This 3‑liter‑plus bottle has been part of the lineup for over two decades, predating the country’s deposit‑system debate, and the company markets it in Poland as well as internationally.
Planned Removal of Non‑Deposit Bottles
The minister also set a date for when such bottles will be removed from shelves, though the announcement did not reveal the exact timeline.
