The Economics of Reuse Systems

The urgency of addressing plastic pollution is widely recognized, and the linear approach of resource exploitation is unsustainable. Embracing circular economy principles not only offers environmental and social benefits but also holds the potential for a net economic gain of €1.8 trillion by 2030. Recycling alone cannot sufficiently mitigate the escalating plastic production, set to triple by 2050. To address this issue, the focus must shift upstream to tackle production at its source.

Reusable packaging emerges as a powerful solution with the highest potential for reducing plastic production. Recent legislative changes in the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and the United Nations' Global Plastic Treaty reflect this shift in emphasis. Despite growing support for reusable packaging, some brands and industry associations remain hesitant, citing concerns about environmental credibility, customer acceptance, behavioral change, and investment costs. While independent life cycle assessments demonstrate the environmental advantages of multi-use over single-use plastic packaging, a comprehensive analysis is needed to evaluate the costs versus benefits of a scaled and optimized reuse system.