Reusable packaging found to be economic at scale

A study from Zero Waste Europe and Searious Business demonstrates that reusable packaging is an economically viable alternative to single-use packaging in certain conditions.

The cost-benefit analysis by Searious Business found three key performance indicators for a financially healthy reuse system: return rates, number of average use cycles and retention time.

Three open-loop packaging categories were reportedly investigated using Spain, Italy and Germany as archetype countries: food containers for takeaway food, secondary transport packaging and beverage containers.

Reusable takeaway food containers were found to be cheaper for service users - with system providers achieving a ROI in years three and four - and that reusable beverage containers are of benefit to users, with a ROI for system providers between five and six years.