Archives: Repositories

This document provides a cost comparison model for reusable transport packaging systems, helping businesses assess the financial benefits of switching from single-use to reusable packaging. It outlines potential savings in areas like reduced material costs, lower product damage, and fewer disposal fees. The document explains how the higher initial investment in durable, reusable packaging can be offset by long-term savings through repeated use. It includes steps for calculating costs and case studies that demonstrate successful transitions to reusable packaging, ultimately promoting sustainability and cost efficiency.

This paper discusses the potential of reusable packaging systems in Europe, highlighting the environmental, economic, and social benefits they offer compared to single-use packaging. It outlines the challenges faced by reuse businesses, such as high initial costs and the need for scale, and proposes policy support, standardised definitions, and incentives to encourage adoption. The paper suggests specific reuse targets for various packaging types by 2030 and emphasises the need for government action, funding, and regulatory frameworks to support the transition to a circular economy and reduce reliance on single-use packaging.

The report “A Just Transition to Reusable Packaging” focuses on the conditions and benefits of transitioning from single-use to reusable packaging, primarily in the grocery retail and HoReCa sectors. It highlights the socio-economic impacts on businesses, workers, consumers, and communities, exploring how reusable packaging can create jobs, reduce environmental waste, and support local economies. The report advocates for policy frameworks and economic incentives to support this transition, and it emphasises the role of social enterprises in ensuring equitable outcomes for all stakeholders involved​.

This article explores the renewed interest in reusable packaging due to increasing sustainability pressures from regulators and consumers. It discusses the barriers preventing widespread adoption, such as lack of infrastructure, cost, and regulatory challenges, and suggests that reusable packaging could either remain niche or become mainstream. The article identifies four key enablers — consumer demand, supportive regulations, product adaptation, and store readiness — that could help scale reusable packaging solutions significantly over the next decade.

The report outlines a vision to achieve “30 by 30” — with 30% of consumable goods in the U.S. and Canada sold in reusable formats by 2030. It examines the significant environmental impact of single-use packaging and presents reuse systems as a viable alternative, especially for the food service, beverage, and consumer packaged goods sectors. The report advocates for transforming packaging from a product to a service, requiring new infrastructure, industry collaboration, and policy support. The aim is to establish scalable, local reuse systems that reduce waste and operational costs while addressing Scope 3 climate emissions, making reuse a sustainable, economically viable option for businesses.

This study by Zero Waste Europe and Searious Business dives into the financial benefits of reuse systems. In fact, it explains how adopting circular economy principles could not only benefit Europe environmentally and socially but could also generate a net economic benefit of €1.8 trillion by 2030. The study identifies three parameters to decide on the performance of a financially healthy reuse system: rotation cycles before end of life, return rate and retention time. Moreover, these parameters are applied to 3 packaging categories in an open loop system: food containers for takeaway food, secondary transport packaging and beverage bottles.

This study explores strategies to scale returnable packaging systems to reduce plastic waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and conserve water. It advocates for high levels of collaboration across industries to create efficient, cost-effective reuse models. The analysis includes environmental and economic modelling across product categories like beverages and personal care, highlighting the need for policy support and industry-wide infrastructure to make reusable packaging a viable mainstream solution.

The report “Facilitating the Adoption of Takeaway Reuse Systems” by Eunomia, commissioned by Zero Waste Europe, examines the costs and policy measures needed to transition from single-use to reusable takeaway packaging. It finds that reusable systems, though initially more costly for vendors, offer significant environmental benefits by reducing litter and carbon emissions. The report recommends fiscal measures like taxes or levies on single-use packaging to level the playing field and fund reuse systems. It also suggests setting mandatory targets for reuse rates and implementing supportive policies to ensure high return and rotation rates, ultimately aiming for widespread adoption and significant environmental impact.