The Reuse Barometer reveals that Europe's reusable packaging industry is growing, with high return rates and profitability in sectors like e-commerce and takeaway.
The Reuse Barometer report highlights the rapid growth of the reusable packaging industry across Europe, revealing that over 80% of reusable packaging solutions have return rates exceeding 75%. Additionally, 65% of reusable packaging solutions operating in retail are profitable. The report, compiled by Zero Waste Europe, evaluates the economic and environmental impact of 90 reusable packaging initiatives, noting that industries such as e-commerce and takeaway food are finding success in reducing single-use plastics through innovative packaging systems.
One standout solution comes from CLUBZERØ, which has prevented over 2.6 million single-use items from ending up in landfills, saving 39 tonnes of CO2 and 260 m³ of water. The Reuse Barometer also suggests that deposit systems where users are charged a fee if packaging is not returned achieve higher return rates compared to upfront deposit systems.
The initiative will further expand in Eastern and Central Europe through Planet Reuse’s network, forming local partnerships and intensifying efforts to scale up reusable packaging systems. The future editions of the Barometer will focus on more granular data to enhance the impact of reuse practices across different sectors.
Reusing packaging is an essential step toward achieving a circular economy and reducing plastic waste, particularly as consumer demand for sustainability grows. However, challenges remain in adoption across the private and public sectors, with experts calling for more support to reach larger scale operations.
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