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
Zero Waste Europe, Searious Business, and National Hawker Federation (NHF) | 2023
The report finds that informal street vendors in India make a compelling business case for reuse systems to significantly reduce all plastic production in order to stop plastic pollution of every kind, not just single-use plastics.
Zero Waste Europe | 2023
This blueprint aims to support and harmonise the creation of a well-performing and resilient reuse infrastructure development model in urban areas across Europe; and its scaling up in the next few years, starting with the key sector of reusable take-away food and drinks packaging. This sector has experienced an unprecedented rate of dynamism and innovation over the last few years and can be instrumental in setting up urban infrastructure which could later be used by other product and packaging categories.
Zero Waste Europe | 2023
Despite increased attention being paid to the sustainability and principles of circular economy in the European Union, there is a general lack of holistic and harmonised legislative approaches towards materials’ circularity and the critical aspects of their chemical safety.
Surfrider Foundation Europe | 2023
Reset Your Habits is calling for broad and deep societal and behavioural changes, where we modify our consumption and production habits in order to limit our ecological impact. This guide is intended, first and foremost, for public authorities - cities, towns, municipalities, local authorities as well as States - because they are key in implementing national and European policies throughout their regions and in tailoring them to their citizens' needs.
Exit Plastik | 2022
This topic page on the website of the German civil society alliance Exit Plastik provides an overview of the topic of reusable packaging. It contains information and links to further materials and campaigns by Exit Plastik Alliance and its members.
Deutsche Umwelthilfe | 2021
Specifically developed and designed for a young international audience, the digital book "Unpacked! Plastic, Waste, & Me" answers 70 questions about plastic in colorful infographics and six true stories. Book designer and author Gesine Grotrian and a team of experts from the Heinrich Böll Foundation together with an advisory board of young people from all over the world have created an exciting non-fiction book for young people aged 12 and over.
Surfrider Foundation Europe | 2019
This White Paper for an Ocean free from Plastic Bottles, written to the intention of the European Union and its Member States, groups some, but not all, of Surfrider Foundation Europe’s recommendations to limit the number of plastic bottles ending up in the environment.
