Many Happy Returns: Combining insights from the environmental and behavioural sciences to understand what is required to make reusable packaging mainstream

Greenwood, Sarah C.; Walker, Stuart; Baird, Harriet M.; Parsons, Richard E.; Mehl, Seth; Webb, Thomas L.; Slark, Andrew T.; Ryan, Anthony J.; Rothman, Rachael

doi:10.1016/j.spc.2021.03.022

Cited by 96 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Recycling is thus never 100% efficient and higher value retention options are therefore preferred from a sustainability standpoint as they increase the lifespan of plastic products (R2-R6) or reduce the need to produce plastics in the first place (R0-R2). In fact, research has found that re-usable packaging, such as returnable bottles, have significantly lower ecological footprints than single-use plastics [91][92][93].…”

Section: R9mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, recycling (R7) remains the core CE value retention strategy in Dutch policies and the only one with mandatory targets. Yet, recycling has clear limitations and cannot by itself lead to a sustainable circular plastic economy without strong policy measures and targets on higher value retention options such as reducing virgin plastic consumption (R0 refuse), eco-design requirements to reduce the environmental impact of plastics (R1 reduce), and the promotion of re-usable packaging (R2 reuse) [25,86,92].…”

Section: Analysis Of Dutch Policiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transition to a Sustainable Circular Plastics Economy in The Netherlands: Discourse and Policy Analysis

et al. 2021

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The circular economy (CE) has become a key sustainability discourse in the last decade. The Netherlands seeks to become fully circular by 2050 and the EU has set ambitious circularity targets in its CE Action Plan of 2015. The plastics sector, in particular, has gained a lot of attention as it is a priority area of both the EU and Dutch CE policies. However, there has been little research on the different and often contested discourses, governance processes and policy mechanisms guiding the transition to a circular economy and society. This paper aims to fill these gaps by asking what circular discourses and policies are being promoted in the Netherlands and what sustainability implications and recommendations can be drawn from it. It does so through a mix of media analysis, policy analysis, semi-structured interviews, and surveys using Q-methodology. Results indicate a dominance of technocentric imaginaries, and a general lack of discussion on holistic, and transformative visions, which integrate the full social, political, and ecological implication of a circular future. To address those challenges, this research brings key policy insights and recommendations which can help both academics and practitioners better understand and implement the transition towards a sustainable circular plastics economy.

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Section: R9mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analysis Of Dutch Policiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition to a Sustainable Circular Plastics Economy in The Netherlands: Discourse and Policy Analysis

et al. 2021

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“…Five studies in this review were not included in the quantitative reuse meta-analysis; two had no single-use baseline and three had no absolute impact data but provided their own break-even points. For Climate Change impacts, these were 4 times for reusable plastic cutlery ( 67 ), 2-4 times for takeaway food containers ( 68 ), <3-7 times for drinks cups ( 70 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reusable products were compared to single use products in 17 LCAs (21,25,28,30,35,41,43,(56)(57)(58)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70). Studies comparing packaging designed to be reused with packaging designed for single use, based on both products being used just once (n=6 studies; 32 comparison points) demonstrated almost universal and often large relative increases in all health-related impacts for reusable packaging (Figure S4).…”

Section: Health Effects Of Reusable Plastic Packagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human health effects of recycling and reusing plastic packaging in the food system: a systematic review and meta-analysis of life cycle assessments

Deeney

Green

Yan

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Circular strategies, including recycling and reuse of food packaging, are critical responses to the plastic pollution crisis and could provide co-benefits and trade-offs for human health. Our meta-analysis of life cycle assessment (LCA) data quantifies possible health effects using Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) mediated by climate change, ozone, air pollution, toxicity, and water scarcity. We found strong evidence for reduced health risks with both a higher percentage of recycled content and a greater end-of-life recycling rate, resulting in around a day of healthy life saved per tonne of plastic packaging recycled. On average, reusable packaging reduced the health impacts associated with single use plastics after 30 uses, which is unlikely reflected in current consumer behaviour. Data from low- and middle-income countries, and greater use of health indicators in LCA, are urgently needed. LCA is a unique tool that could be optimised for interdisciplinary public health research on circular economies.TeaserLife cycle assessment meta-analysis shows recycling and reusing plastic food packaging could provide human health co-benefits, and some risks.

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“…Regarding sustainable packaging, some academics, adopting a micro perspective, focus on sustainable materials (e.g. Wu et al, 2021), technologies to trace reusable packaging such as digital passports within value chains (Ellsworth-Krebs et al 2022), environmental packaging design with regard to consumers (Yokokawa, et al, 2021), combined perspectives for sustainable package design (Svanes et al, 2010), and reusable packaging systems (Greenwood et al, 2021).…”

Section: Literature Review Sustainable Packaging and Green Supply Cha...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating sustainable packaging practices: a framework approach

Lekesiztürk,

Oflaç

2022

pesd

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With the growing concerns on environmental issues, employing sustainable practices has become one of the most significant issues in today's business agenda. Sustainable packaging is an umbrella term referring to different packaging related operations at various levels of supply chains. This study investigates the sustainable packaging practices and inhibiting factors in packaging supply chains. Semi-structured expert interviews were employed with a quartic perspective, involving diverse packaging supply chain members. By proposing a Sustainable Packaging Practices Model (SPPM), nine sustainable packaging practices are presented: (1) raise awareness, (2) innovate: sustainable raw materials and processes, (3) reduce packaging material and carbon footprint, (4) recollect and reuse, (5) save energy and use sustainable energy sources, (6) sort waste and recycle, (7) consume water less and recycle water, (8) certify, (9) co-create. Moreover, the findings of the study show that the scarcity and high costs of sustainable raw materials, low demand for sustainable packaging, legal incompatibilities, and production and quality related issues inhibit sustainable packaging practices.

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Many Happy Returns: Combining insights from the environmental and behavioural sciences to understand what is required to make reusable packaging mainstream

Cited by 96 publications

References 23 publications

Transition to a Sustainable Circular Plastics Economy in The Netherlands: Discourse and Policy Analysis

Transition to a Sustainable Circular Plastics Economy in The Netherlands: Discourse and Policy Analysis

Human health effects of recycling and reusing plastic packaging in the food system: a systematic review and meta-analysis of life cycle assessments

Investigating sustainable packaging practices: a framework approach

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