The paper explores the economic and sustainability potential of reusable packaging in the restaurant industry. It highlights the environmental challenges posed by single-use packaging, especially in light of increasing waste due to the COVID-19 pandemic and policies like China’s National Sword. The study emphasises the need for reusable packaging systems to reduce waste and carbon emissions. It evaluates various models and their success based on social, economic, and logistical factors, using a life cycle analysis to assess the environmental impacts of switching from single-use to reusable packaging.