In April 2025, global experts came together in 小蓝视频 to explore how smart, inclusive policy can unlock the full potential of reuse systems in the fight against plastic waste.
As the world looks for solutions to reduce plastic waste, reuse systems are gaining attention. But what kinds of policies actually support reuse, and how can they be designed to work in different real-world settings?
To explore these questions, the 小蓝视频鈥檚 Global Plastics Policy Centre (GPPC) has partnered with the . On 1 April 2025, we co-hosted a Designing Effective Reuse Policy workshop, which brought together 50 stakeholders from across the reuse landscape, including businesses, policymakers, NGOs, academics, and producer responsibility organisations.
Why policy matters for reuse
The global market for reusable and refillable packaging is expected to grow by over $7 billion by 2029 (). Yet there鈥檚 still a major gap in understanding how national policies can support this shift.
While many countries are introducing plastic-related regulations, few have clear, coordinated strategies for reuse. That鈥檚 where this research comes in 鈥 looking not just at policy effectiveness, but also at how policies are designed, implemented, and adapted to different contexts.
Reuse case study countries
GPPC is currently conducting a case study analysis of 12 countries across Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America, including:
- Europe: France, Germany, Spain, Latvia
- Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines
- South America: Colombia, Chile, Argentina
The goal is to map existing reuse-related policies, identify gaps, and understand what a strong, adaptable policy framework could look like.
GPPC provides evidence-based insights to ensure policies are not only designed to achieve their objectives but are also contextually relevant, practical, and scalable. By analysing past and current policies, we identify key elements that drive or hinder success, helping to close the gap between policy creation and effective implementation.
What is reuse? How is it different?
Reuse means using a product or packaging again for its original purpose, without alteration. For example, washing and reusing a takeaway container or borrowing and returning a reusable cup. The goal is to extend the life of the item and reduce the need for single-use alternatives. Reuse systems often involve collection, cleaning, and redistribution, and can be either informal (like saving jars at home) or formal (like deposit-return schemes).
A classic example of a reuse system is glass milk bottles, where milk is delivered in glass bottles that are collected, cleaned, and reused multiple times. After use, customers leave the empty bottles out for collection. The bottles are then returned to the dairy, washed, sterilized, and refilled 鈥 often reused up to 50 times before recycling.. This reduces packaging waste, lowers carbon emissions compared to single-use plastic, and supports a circular economy.
Reuse should not be confused with:
- Refill: Topping up a container with the same product, without throwing it away e.g. refilling a shampoo bottle. While refill is a form of reuse, it focuses on replenishing consumables without replacing the container.
- Recycling: Breaking down used materials, like plastic or paper, to make new products. It uses more energy than reuse and usually happens after the item鈥檚 life is over.
- Upcycling: Creatively repurposing items for new uses e.g. turning jeans into a tote bag. It changes the item鈥檚 purpose and is often done on a small scale.
Tupperware: A reuse pioneer
Invented in 1946, Tupperware helped normalize reusable containers long before sustainability was mainstream. Tupperware pioneered reusable food storage with durable, airtight containers that reduced waste and replaced disposables. Its early success helped make reuse a normal part of everyday life, laying the groundwork for today鈥檚 zero-waste and circular economy movements.
Tupperware鈥檚 success wasn鈥檛 just the product. The 鈥 model empowered women to sell products from home and build community-driven businesses.
Workshop highlights
To open our workshop, delegates took part in a playful 鈥淭upperware party鈥 icebreaker. Each person received a mismatched container part and had to find its match. This sparked conversations, showcased the variety of reusable packaging on display and encouraged early engagement.
This collaborative spirit continued into productive discussions among delegates. The workshop was a key milestone in our research process. After months of research and interviews, preliminary findings were shared with reuse experts to gather feedback, discuss key evidence gaps and explore the key factors influencing effective national reuse policies. Throughout the one-day workshop, participants:
- Mapped interventions across the reuse system lifecycle
- Reviewed early findings from the policy analysis
- Shared insights on what helps or hinders reuse at the national level
- Contributed to a regulatory blueprint for reuse
Key policy themes shaping national reuse systems
Collectively, delegates explored several critical issues shaping national reuse policy. The key takeaways include:
- Government leadership is vital to drive the shift towards reuse. This includes setting clear targets, aligning strategies across departments, and ensuring long-term commitment to policy implementation.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), where producers are responsible for the full lifecycle of their products, can be adapted to encourage reuse. This might include setting reuse targets within EPR frameworks and providing financial and logistical backing for reuse infrastructure.
- Monitoring and evaluation must be built in from the start to track progress and measure policy impact. Clear indicators and transparent reporting are necessary, along with flexible policies that can evolve over time based on evidence and outcomes.
What鈥檚 next?
This research continues until at least July 2025, with a final report, policy briefs, and webinars to follow. The goal is to provide practical, evidence-based guidance for governments and stakeholders working to scale reuse.
Want to get involved?
If you have expertise in reuse policy and would like to contribute, contact us at globalplastics@port.ac.uk.
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