A recent survey by the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM) has found that a majority of German consumers are dissatisfied with the new, permanently attached caps on plastic bottles. The survey, reported by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”, revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents believe the bottles are more difficult to handle than those with traditional closures.
While 20 percent of those polled rated the handling as better and 16 percent saw no difference, the majority of age groups shared similar skepticism. Younger individuals, those with children and those who frequently prioritize eco-friendly packaging when purchasing drinks were more likely to express a positive view.
The EU’s new regulation, requiring the caps to be attached to the plastic bottles, has been in effect since mid-2024, aimed at reducing plastic waste in the oceans. However, nearly half of the respondents, 47 percent, do not find the new caps convincing in terms of environmental protection, with only 32 percent perceiving a sense of purpose in the design.
Respondents cited several issues with the “Tethered Caps”, including that the cap makes drinking more cumbersome (63 percent), is distracting when pouring (55 percent) and makes the bottle harder to close (48 percent). A third of those polled also mentioned that the cap is difficult to open. Only 12 percent of respondents saw no problem.
The market researchers also inquired about changes in drinking habits since the introduction of the new caps. The majority, 52 percent, denied any changes, while 32 percent reported drinking less from the bottle and one in five claimed to be avoiding products with such caps. Seven percent, on the other hand, stated they are now more likely to purchase products with the new caps.
According to the study’s leader, Matthias Unfried, “the permanently attached cap has not won many friends in Germany”, but the survey suggests that, despite the discontent, Germans are generally adapting to the new design. The survey polled 1,017 people aged 18 to 74, conducted in May 2025.