Ellen MacArthur Foundation calls for “reuse revolution” as report shows benefits surpass recycling

22 Nov 2023 --- Returnable packaging can be environmentally and financially competitive with single-use packaging for certain products, a new study from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) released today shows.

The study “Unlocking a reuse revolution” discusses the benefits of adopting reusable plastic packaging for selected beverage, food cupboard, personal care and fresh food items, when designed collaboratively across the industry and operated at a large scale.

“Reuse schemes are a crucial step in helping us accelerate toward a circular economy. They help reduce waste as well as the total production of plastics,” Dilyana Mihaylova, program manager for Plastics at the EMF, tells Packaging Insights.

“Packaging should always be designed to be safe. This means eliminating the use of harmful chemicals — to us or the environment. The packaging must be designed for prolonged use, and to prevent the creation of any additional microplastics.”

Mihaylova recognizes a reuse revolution requires a transition, requiring all actors in the value chain to work together.Mihaylova says that one of the opportunities for further research or innovation that surfaced in the development of EMF’s insights is on testing and validating the safety and health impacts of using different materials for multiple uses and washing cycles. Reuse systems are likely to use a range of materials, for different products and use cases.

Sander Defruyt, plastics initiative lead at the EMF, adds: “It’s time for a reuse revolution. Embracing this gives us the opportunity to tackle plastic pollution, ease pressure on our natural resources, and make strides toward net zero.”

Highlighting returnable benefits
More than 60 organizations including the European Investment Bank, national governments, reuse experts and major brands and retailers such as Danone, Nestlé, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company and Unilever, provided inputs for the study.

Recent findings in the foundation’s “Global Commitment Five Years In” publication suggest that worldwide virgin plastic use in packaging is unlikely to decrease below today’s levels before 2050 without a significant shift toward reuse. It identified packaging reuse as a key hurdle to overcome in reversing the tide of plastic waste and pollution.

EMF’s latest study, developed in partnership with Systemiq and Eunomia, shows that in the most ambitious scenario, returnable plastic packaging could lower GHG emissions and water use by 35–70% compared with single-use plastics.

To drive global change, the international charity calls on leaders across the private, public and finance sectors to take a fresh approach to expand a reuse revolution through shared infrastructure, packaging standardization and to work collaboratively to reach high return rates.

Establishing reuse at scaleReturnable plastic packaging could lower GHG emissions and water use by 35–70% compared to single-use, finds EMF.
The study shows what environmental and economic benefits can be achieved if we propel reuse models from pilot to mainstream. In order to maximize the environmental opportunity, Mihaylova says collaboration to overcome challenges associated with two key drivers of performance is needed.

“First, shared infrastructure is required for collecting and cleaning used packaging — as opposed to individual companies attempting to set up their own system. By sharing infrastructure, businesses can cut costs and reduce transport distances. It also provides a more convenient and affordable experience for customers,” asserts Mihaylova.

“Secondly, the design of packaging across companies needs greater harmonization. This allows the sorting, cleaning and transportation of packaging to become more streamlined and efficient. The greater the harmonization, the more cost effective the system.”

Mihaylova recognizes such measures would require a major transition, but if all actors in the value chain work together to reach economies of scale, and create a great experience for customers where they return packaging, a returnable packaging system can tackle plastic pollution, ease pressure on our natural resources and make strides toward net zero, she says.

The EMF sees the ongoing development of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty as “major opportunities” to enforce reuse policies.

“Our study offers a positive vision. It shows what can be achieved if we propel reuse models from pilot to mainstream. Collaboration is crucial. If we harmonize packaging design and standards and if we share collection and sorting infrastructure, we can make the economics work and unlock huge environmental benefits,” concludes Mihaylova.

By Natalie Schwertheim

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