New ERA is a solution-driven industry addressing the single-use packaging waste crisis in Europe. They have created a reuse system as a solution for creating a circular economy of packaging. A circular economy is the practice of reducing waste to a minimum, where items and products are reused.

Reuse in simple terms means to use something again. Reuse falls under the 3R hierarchy, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reuse packaging offers a solution to multiple problems, including the increasing consumption of single-use plastics, the recycling gap, and the need to preserve Earth’s precious resources.

Let’s walk through why we should reuse, how reuse packaging works and its benefits to circularity. You will also learn more about how we can collaborate better in the circular economy and what the future may look like.

Why Reuse?

Single use disposable items have a high cost environmentally, economically and socially. Recycling has taken the lead in solving the plastic crisis, however, rates are regressing and have only perpetuated the linear economy. To solve this problem, reuse packaging offers a range of alternatives to single use.

The reuse of packaging materials for food ware or takeaways is a climate strategy offering multiple benefits such as,

1. Environmental: reduce CO2 emissions
2. Economical: Offers a new market beside Recycling
3. Social: New Job, New Industry

How does the reuse packaging strategy work?

This is a total collaborative system offering the collection, sorting, recycling and the redistribution of waste. The reuse packaging system, therefore, must be recyclable from design to concept. The design uses best industry practices and innovations which sets standards for the value chain. These are the key reuse and refill targets,

1. Takeaway solutions : reuse offer for food & drinks

Bumerang

Recircle

Vytal

Bibak

2. Beverage solutions: includes take-back obligations
3. Retail solutions: space dedicated to refill stations

Berny

Bric A Vrac

4. Ecommerce & Transport Solutions: specific targets for grouped packaging

Boomerang

Hey Circle

Corplex

5. Collection & Washing Solutions

Bout’ à Bout‘

Eternity Systems

This infrastructure provides value by building an efficient, sustainable & convenient reuse system. It provides safe and available packaging for food and utilizes an extended product incentive scheme. Also, AI technology is emerging to influence higher sorting rates by detecting and influencing better sorting habits. Together all collaboration influences this circular economy.

Through the partnerships of businesses and key stakeholders, the higher the collaboration, then the higher the impact. This allows for more accessibility, harmonization of packaging and leads to increased competition against single-use production.

How can we collaborate better?

According to NewERA, we can collaborate better by,

1. Having an open mindset
2. Dialogue with key stakeholders
3. Improving the processes
4. Capacity tracking
5. Financial Investment

What does the future look like to you?

As the population continues to grow, how do we see the public spaces? What does the consumer journey look like? How do the homes of tomorrow appear?

The solution to the alternatives, requires a change of mindset in the way we consume. There is a need for more public awareness and education. To advertise and market the offers and practices of reuse packaging. To implement and or improve our waste management such as waste sorting for a cleaner environment.

If there is a robust alternative, would you say no to single-use plastics today?

Improve your consumer habits today

There is an alternative to single-use plastics, whether implemented or not. Reuse allows consumers to move away from linear economy to a circular economy concept. Circularity minimises waste output into our environment while allowing consumers to continue to enjoy the things they like. Since the benefits of consumerism doesn’t end with circularity, the change starts with you.

Perpetual

Citeo