22 July 2024 Report

Mainstreaming reusable and refillable packaging in the UK

A practical guide for businesses to identify opportunities for transitioning to reusable and refillable packaging, reducing environmental impact by moving away from single-use plastics. 

Why reuse and refill?

In today’s world, reducing plastic waste is more crucial than ever. 

Where it isn’t possible to reduce use of materials, focusing further up the waste hierarchy by increasing uptake of reuse and refill is vital if we are to reduce the impact of plastic packaging, and address plastic pollution.

UK Plastics Pact Annual Summit Artist Sketch Final Output

Our comprehensive guide provides businesses within the packaging supply chain with a step-by-step approach, to evaluate their portfolios and identify opportunities for adopting reusable and refillable solutions. Alongside this there are action plans that set out key steps and activities that need to happen in the short, medium and long-term by different parts of the value chain.

 

What Our Resources Offer

  • Practical Steps: Detailed approach to help businesses transition to reusable and refillable packaging. 

  • An Action Plan: Key actions have been mapped out for brands and manufacturers, retailers, policy makers, and citizens, that set out key activities that need to happen in the short, medium and long-term by different parts of the value chain. 

  • Self-Assessment Tools: Methods to evaluate current packaging and identify potential opportunity areas within product portfolios for reuse and refill. 

The power of collaboration

Challenges to mainstream reuse and refill are significant, but not insurmountable if industry collaborates - let’s work together and accelerate this transition.

To achieve the scale needed for widespread adoption of reusable and refillable packaging, collaboration across the entire value chain is essential. Businesses must engage with their customers, with other brands and retailers, and with the wider value chain to help accelerate the transition. This will achieve design, infrastructure, digital technology and other system efficiencies needed to make reuse mainstream. WRAP plays a pivotal role in bringing together businesses, government, and consumers to accelerate this transition.

By working together, we can: 

  • Share Best Practices: Leverage collective knowledge and experience to overcome common challenges.
  • Develop Shared Infrastructure: Create efficient systems for packaging reuse and refill.
  • Standardise Packaging: Ensure compatibility and ease of use across different products and brands.
     

Preparing for regulatory changes

With incoming packaging and waste regulations, the focus is shifting up the waste hierarchy. The Global Plastics Treaty and the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in Europe both aim for ambitious reuse targets, so businesses need to shape these changes proactively rather than merely comply with new regulations.

By adopting reuse and refill practices now, you can:

  • Stay Ahead of Regulations: Anticipate and comply with future policies aimed at reducing single-use plastics.
  • Influence Policy: Play an active role in shaping sustainable packaging policies and standards.

Environmental benefits

Reusable and refillable packaging is essential to creating a circular economy, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of single-use plastics. Through lower resource use, water, GHG emissions, and material consumption are significantly reduced along with citizens engaging in reusable and refillable packaging. 

Is this guide for you? 

This guide is relevant for businesses in the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) market, hospitality sectors, public institutions, and more. Whether you’re new to reuse or already on your journey, this guide offers valuable insights and actionable steps. Download our how-to guide and start your journey towards a more circular packaging system today. 

The role of WRAP and The UK Plastics Pact

WRAP is here to help you on your reuse and refill journey. We support our members and facilitate collaboration across the packaging value chain, ensuring that all stakeholders work together to tackle the scourge of plastic waste by building a robust, scalable system.

Find out more about The UK Plastics Pact and how you can join here

Download files

  • Mainstreaming Reuse & Refill in the UK - A Practical Guide.pdf

    PDF, 5.76 MB

  • Assessing Opportunity for Reuse and Refill - How-To-Guide.pdf

    PDF, 2.49 MB

  • WRAP Reusable Refillable Opportunity Assessment Tool July 2024 .xlsx

    XLSX, 98.15 KB

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