Every year, we produce over 300 million tons of plastic, and a lot of it is for single use.
We cannot escape plastic pollution, nor can we recycle our way out of this global crisis.
Our planet, our economies, our health, and our communities cannot wait.
The urgency of addressing plastic pollution demands swift and decisive action. The current environmental crisis calls for immediate adoption and scale of REUSE systems as solutions - to create a lasting impact.
To reduce Plastic Pollution, we need to make Reuse Systems the norm.
Reuse systems are accessible, affordable, and make people’s lives easier.
Though the transitioning from single use plastics (SUPs) takes time, the transition process is clear, just, and grounded in shared principles, cross-sector collaboration, and place-based solutions.
Reuse systems can be defined as a comprehensive system with multiple rotations of reusable packaging that remains within the ownership of the system and is loaned to the consumer.
Although refillable alternatives that people can use to avoid single plastic are great, the scale of the plastic pollution crisis requires a systemic approach, in order to reduce plastic production, meet climate targets, stay within our planetary boundaries, create green jobs, protect people’s health, and honor traditional knowledge
Plasticdiet Indonesia, Break Free From Plastic, and Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) | 2024
Asia Reuse Consortium releases this report featuring case studies of existing reuse and refill solutions in Asia and how a plastics treaty can prioritize reuse systems to end plastic pollution.
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) | 2024
Plastic has taken over the world in the past few decades and has burdened Africa’s environments and waste management systems. In this publication on, we explore the problem of plastics on the continent and examine the laws, policies and multilateral agreements put in place to govern plastic waste management and trade. FRENCH VERSION
Plastic Free China | 2024
The report investigates the potential benefits and challenges of transitioning from single-use to reusable packaging in China's rapidly growing express delivery sector. This transition aligns with China's broader environmental goals, including reducing plastic pollution and carbon emissions.
ENVIU | 2023
In Indonesia, Enviu startup Alner (formerly Koinpack) has partnered with existing waste banks (bank sampah) to introduce reuse solutions on top of the latter's community-based waste collection and exchange schemes. Recently, Unilever announced that it will distribute its products through this Alner-Bank Sampah network. The partnership will involve at least 500 waste banks / refill outlets by year end.
University of Portsmouth, Break Free From Plastic | 2023
The Global Plastics Policy Centre team of the University of Portsmouth, in collaboration with #Break Free From Plastic unpacks the key considerations for designing reuse systems, and the critical enablers needed to ensure effective reuse policies. Translations
Deutsche Umwelthilfe | 2023
At the end of January, the opinion research institute forsa asked 1,502 consumers in a representative survey on behalf of German Environmental Aid about their use of disposable and reusable packaging for take-away food and drinks.
The Overbrook Foundation, Plastic Solutions Fund | 2023
The Living Landscape of Reuse Solutions is a database of regularly updated for profit and nonprofit programs and campaigns that provide reuse solutions. It features many members of #breakfreefromplastic
Küste gegen Plastik e.V. | 2023
Consumers can use the app to scan the barcode (EAN) of a product for which they would like reusable packaging. The association Küste gegen Plastik collects this feedback and sends it in a bundle to the companies. The app also contains positive examples of a wide range of products for which reusable solutions are already available. Consumers can send a message to the retail chains for these products, indicating that they would like to see these products in reusable packaging in the retail chain's range.
