The invention relates to a method for reducing the microbiological loading of container products consisting at least partially of at least one plastic material, in which, as part of a first production process, a plastic granulate (29) is fed to an extruder device (19), which melts the granulate (29), which, as part of a further subsequent production process, is forwarded onto a blow¬molding, filling and sealing machine for obtaining the respective container product, characterised in that, at least in parts of the first production process, the respective used plastic material undergoes at least one of the following treatment steps: high-energy radiation and/or plasma treatment and/or a gas having a sterilizing effect.