Rethink Plastic coalition calls for stricter reuse takeaway system to slash packaging waste

12 Jun 2023 --- The Rethink Plastic alliance and a coalition of 81 organizations are calling for effective reuse measures in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation to prevent waste from single-use takeaway packaging. 

The civil society organizations and businesses are advocating for integrating well-designed reuse systems in a letter. The coalition argues that using reusable takeaway packaging is a better solution for the food-packaging sector, from reducing emissions to pushing consumers and businesses toward a circular economy. 

A main call to action by Rethink Plastic and its partners is for reuse legislation to be included broadly within the EU, specifically for members of the European Parliament and the Council. They ask for three key implementations.

• Support the European Commission’s sectoral reuse targets, including for the takeaway sector.
• Critically assess evidence comparing reuse and single-use packaging, challenge opaque methodologies and results, vested interests and unrealistic assumptions.
• Set economic incentives for reuse packaging systems (e.g., a dedicated fund from extended producer responsibility schemes).

“The evidence shows that the current EU packaging legislation has failed to address the issue of packaging waste, as recycling capabilities have proven insufficient to deal with the sheer amount of packaging waste. We don’t need more data or science to transition to reuse. Now we need action. What are EU politicians waiting for?,” asks Larissa Copello, reuse & packaging policy officer at Zero Waste Europe.

The letter is accompanied by a factsheet of seven reasons why reusable takeaway packaging is a sustainable alternative compared to single-use.

A coalition of organizations calls for the PPWR to implement better reuse measures for takeaway food packaging. Why reusable
The factsheet reports that reusable takeaway packaging is more climate-friendly than single-use packaging due to the emissions associated with reusable packaging. For reusables, the emissions are spread out throughout its life cycle according to the number of rotations it undergoes. 

“To unlock reuse systems’ potential environmental, economic and social impact, we need an ambitious EU policy establishing high reuse targets. This will push all stakeholders to reassess the status quo and foster investments into truly closed loop business models that ultimately will benefit the planet, small and medium enterprises and communities,” says Fernando Rodríguez-Mata Fernández, director general at New European Reuse Alliance.

The cleaning of reusable takeaway packaging uses less water than the production of single-use packaging, according to several independent researches. The water consumption of the production of single-use takeaway packaging can be considered higher than the cleaning efforts for reusable packaging.

Rethink Plastic notes that reusable takeaway packaging gets recycled, whereas incineration is the most common disposal scenario of single-use takeaway packaging. The production and disposal of reusable packaging generally occur in a controlled environment since they operate within a system that includes an economic incentive to return the item. 

When the packaging reaches its end of life, it can be directly sent back to the system operator. By contrast, single-use takeaway packaging is usually disposed of in mixed waste bins either on the go, when consumed in-house or littered in the environment.

The company also claims that support of bring-your-own packaging will not be sufficient to create a transition toward a circular packaging sector. Rethink Plastic states “bring your own” remains a concept for a niche of highly motivated consumers that does not sufficiently contribute to leveling the playing field between disposable and reusable packaging solutions, even if offered a discount.

The factsheet says safe refilling of reusable packaging is possible in compliance with hygiene standards. ItReThink Plastic says reusable packaging uses less water for cleaning over its lifetime than single-use packaging. claims that refilling for either “bring your own” or reusable packaging in a reuse system can be well-implemented while considering hygiene standards. 

A call for legislation 
Another reason raised by the factsheet on why reusable takeaway packaging is better than single-use is that paper packaging can exert pressure on forests and is not always recyclable. In the EU, half of all paper produced is now used for packaging, with three billion trees being cut down annually around the world to meet the demand for paper packaging. 

Paper packaging is often coated with other materials like plastic and aluminum, creating more waste and impeding recycling. These packagings are also frequently contaminated by food, which makes recycling impossible, causing them to end up in landfills or incinerated. 

“Business forerunners have been laying down the foundations of efficient, convenient and sustainable reuse systems across Europe over the last years, decades in the case of the beverages and the transport packaging sector,” continues Rodríguez-Mata Fernández. 

Lastly, ReThink Plastic raises that existing legislation and well-established reuse systems are in place in progressive EU member states. Many countries have already put measures supporting or mandating reusable packaging for the takeaway sector in their national legislation, including France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany. Also, many initiatives for reusable packaging for takeaway food and drinks exist across Europe.

“There is proven evidence of the benefits of reuse systems. Reuse systems are already well established in many EU countries, several of which are currently implementing further reuse measures,” says Copello. 

“In the past years, we have seen more and more businesses moving toward a reuse model, establishing best practices and effectively reducing packaging waste at local and national levels.”

By Sabine Waldeck