A study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation highlights that embracing reusable plastic packaging could drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 69%. Examining over 60 entities, including major companies like Danone, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever, the report emphasises how such initiatives not only cut emissions but also lower costs. Conducted in collaboration with Systemiq and Eunomia, the study advocates for systemic changes across various sectors to tackle plastic waste effectively. Under the ambitious ‘System Change’ scenario, reuse programmes could diminish emissions by 35% to 69%, water usage by 45% to 70%, and material usage by 45% to 76%. However, success hinges on the implementation of deposit schemes to ensure high return rates, necessitating shared infrastructure, standardised packaging, and pooling among various stakeholders. This underscores the urgent need for policymakers and consumer goods leaders to transform practices for a sustainable circular economy, as highlighted by Jean-Pierre Schwetizer from the European Environmental Bureau.

Read more from Reuters