UK – A recent study by charity organization, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), indicates that implementing returnable packaging in the food, beverage, and personal care sectors could potentially reduce emissions from single-use plastic by over two-thirds.
The report suggests that GHG emissions might be curtailed by 35% to 69% across various product types if there is a substantial transformation in how companies approach packaging.
The proposed “system change” scenario envisions brands collaborating to share infrastructure and packaging. This model anticipates around 95% of packaging being returned, allowing these packages to be reused approximately 15 times.
The study, released on November 22, projects reductions in water and material use by 45% to 70% and 45% to 76%, respectively.
The report emphasizes that these benefits hinge on the application and scale of returnable packaging systems. Maximum gains, ranging from 40% to 70%, are projected in large-scale reuse systems with high return rates and optimized transportation.
For such returnable packaging systems to flourish economically at scale, manufacturers must collaborate to scale and share infrastructure, integrating collecting, cleaning, sorting, and transportation processes.
Standardizing packaging, leaving only labels and closures as brand differentiators, could enhance sorting and overall efficiency, as suggested by the report.
The study underscores the need for high consumer return rates, emphasizing that simplifying the collection process to create a seamless customer experience is crucial. Streamlining collection streams and simplifying interactions for customers could reduce barriers to participation.
The EMF’s most ambitious scenario, envisioning extensive collaboration across industries and government, predicts a 28% lower cost per unit for a returnable beverage bottle compared to single-use bottles.
Sander Defruyt, plastics initiative lead at the EMF, highlights the need for further research and groundwork to actualize scalable return models, emphasizing that comprehensive change requires a collaborative effort involving businesses, policymakers, and financial institutions.
The study was conducted in partnership with sustainability firms Systemiq and Eunomia, as well as major corporations like Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Co., Amazon, Mars, and Danone.
In related observations made in November, the EMF noted that several FMCG companies are lagging behind sustainable plastic targets for 2025.
Companies like Mars and PepsiCo have seen an increase in their use of virgin plastic, indicating a need for more concerted efforts to meet sustainability goals.
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