Welcome to the Solutions Database,
a guide to technologies, strategies, and best practices for reducing plastic waste

Choose your solution

eliminate

Eliminate plastic
minimize

Minimize plastic
reuse

Reuse models
paper

Paper
compostable

Compostable
glass

Glass
metal

Metal
more-recyclable

More recyclable formats
enhance-recyclability

Enhance recyclability
biobased

Bio-based content
mechanically-recycled

Mechanically recycled content
chemically-recycled

Chemically recycled content

Reuse Models

Under reuse models, reusable packaging is kept in the economy, intact, and used by consumers more than once for its original purpose (3). The packaging can be offered as either a refill or a return model, often incorporating elements such as dispensers, reverse logistics, cleaning, delivery, financial incentives for customers, and subscription services. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Upstream Innovation Guide, there are four reuse models, spanning refill models where a customer owns the package to return systems where companies take back the package.

The four reuse models are:

  • Refill at home (e.g., refills delivered through a subscription service)
  • Refill on the go (e.g., in-store bulk dispensers or reusable shopping bags)
  • Return from home (e.g. collect reusable packages from the doorstep)
  • Return on the go (e.g., return packaging to a drop-off point).

Guidance on ambition level: An ambitious target (based on today’s packaging volumes) is to switch 30-50% of beverages, and home and personal care products packaged in PET/HDPE bottles to durable reuse models by 2030. Since scaled reuse models can increase cost savings and efficiency, even higher targets for specific products or packaging types may be beneficial. Reuse solutions for these products range from concentrated refills, to refill on the go, delivery services, and returnable bottles.

Guidance on different packaging formats: Reuse models are most applicable for (but not limited to) the following types of packaging:

  • Beverages, and home and personal care products currently packaged in PET/HDPE bottles switching to reuse models with durable packaging – high potential.
  • Dried food, snacks, and coffee currently packed in trays, jars, cups, bowls, windowed boxes, plastic bags, and pouches made of PET/HDPE/PP rigids; other polymer rigids; PE mono-material film; non-PE film, pouches & other flexibles; or multi-material blend, switching to reuse models with durable packaging instead – medium potential.

Case studies and rationale are detailed in refill at home, refill on the go, return at home, return on the go

Costs of reuse models vary significantly depending on their set-up and scale. For reuse models, both running costs (e.g., the production costs of the reusable packaging and reverse logistics, cleaning, and refilling) and installation costs (e.g., capital expenditure on items like bulk dispensers) need to be taken into consideration. For this reason, standardization and economies of scale are often critical for reuse models to be cost effective. In addition to user adoption, scale can be reached through either standardization within a company or shared standards and infrastructure between industry players within or across sectors (3).

Switching to reuse models can drive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions.

Precise GHG savings vary as a function of how reuse systems are designed. An analysis by Zero Waste Europe and Reloop found that 72% of studies indicate a better environmental performance for reusable packaging, 12% show a mixed result, while in 16% of the analyzed studies, single-use packaging was found to be environmentally more favorable (4). The number of reuse cycles in practice, the weight of the reusable package, and the system layout are all key determinants of GHG emissions. In some cases (e.g., a heavy reusable package that is cycled four times or less), reuse models can even have higher GHG emissions than single-use packaging. Similarly, models with simple logistics (e.g., little or no cleaning or reverse logistics requirements) show better GHG savings relative to complex models with high transportation distances covered. In future, low-carbon transportation, renewable energy, larger scales, and shared infrastructure could significantly improve the GHG performance of reuse models. Companies are encouraged do further research on the actual benefits of a re-use model for their particular packaging situation.

Detailed solutions, applicability per plastic type, and case studies are available for each of the elimination approaches:

Key Benefits

  • Potential cost reductions At scale, well-designed and successful reuse models may offer significant cost savings and drive efficiency in the supply chain. Passing cost savings on to consumers will help incentivize customers to adopt reuse, while maintaining profit margins for retailers/brands.
  • Personalized user experience. Carefully designed reuse models can bring consumer benefits, including improved choice, more automated deliveries, and the ability for customers to mix and match flavors, personalize packaging, and choose desired quantities (2).
  • Stronger customer relationships. Subscription schemes for reusable packaging create long-term customer relationships, and boost brand loyalty and customer retention (2). In addition, by incorporating digital offerings, firms can gather information on user preferences and improve system performance (2).
  • Lower emissions and plastic pollution" When well implemented, reusable packaging may reduce GHG emissions and plastic pollution compared to single-use plastic.

How to make it work

  • Prioritize products applicable to reuse Beverages, cleaning products, or dry food packaging can typically switch more easily to reuse models than other products (see “Guidance on different packaging formats”).
  • Consider whether to offer reuse models directly or partner with a service provider While some companies operate their own reuse models, others partner with third party reuse service providers to take advantage of scale and know-how. The two options have pros and cons that need to be carefully weighed. Key success factors to consider before building and operating your own reuse system include:
    • Reaching a critical scale to ensure cost competitiveness, especially if reverse logistics and/or cleaning is required.
    • Ensuring consumer convenience by dealing with consumer barriers and providing a seamless, convenient experience for consumers. As well as convenience, both the actual and the perceived health and safety standards of reuse systems are essential for consumer acceptance (1,3).
    • Achieving a high number of reuse cycles in practice. The number of reuse cycles over the lifetime of a reusable package is a key driver of environmental impact and economic viability, alongside factors like material choice and system layout (1,4). Heavier reusable cups, for example, require 10 reuse cycles to break even (4). It’s important to incentivize your customers to return and refill as many times as possible and to monitor this indicator closely. A successful reuse model often requires a combination between using durable packaging that will not wear out and minimizing the weight of multi-use packaging (4).
  • Incorporate low-carbon transport and shorten transport distances Transportation is often the primary source of emissions for reuse models; minimize them by choosing low-carbon transport options and shorter distances wherever possible.
  • Do early testing of human-centered design approaches Avoid early-stage failures and ensure that the new systems align with the needs and preferences of users (1). Rapid prototyping and a “learn by doing” approach are key for reuse models as their viability often still needs to be proven, especially in new geographies and for new products.
  • Watch out for unintended consequences Reuse models can have unintended consequences, such as high water or energy consumption, high GHG emissions, or high material usage, usually driven by low reuse cycles in practice.

Enabling system conditions

  • Standardization: Having more universal standards for reusable and refillable packaging, as well as establishing common reverse logistics, storage, sorting, and washing, can all help to reduce costs and emissions while enhancing customer convenience (3, 4). For example, using standard sizes that fit supply chains make reuse models more efficient.
  • Collaboration: Consider collaborating with other brands or sectors to achieve larger scales and lower costs with the help of streamlined logistics and transport, or shared refill infrastructure (e.g., for collection or washing) (2).Government policy and support: Policy measures can help remove market barriers for reusable packaging systems. For instance, subsidies for reusable packaging, packaging fees, or deposit return systems may help to scale up reusable packaging systems (4).

Examples and case studies

References and Further Reading

  1. Bringing Reusable Packaging Systems to Life: Lessons learned from Testing Reusable Cups, Closed Loop Partners and IDEO
  2. Reuse Rethinking Packaging (2019), Ellen MacArthur Foundation
  3. Upstream Innovation: A Guide to Packaging Solutions, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
  4. Reusable vs Single-Use Packaging, Zero Waste Europe and Reloop