A new report has urged the UK government to adopt a legally binding target for 30 percent of consumer packaging to be reusable by 2035, in a bid to curb waste and reduce the environmental impact of single-use packaging.
The study, titled A 30% Reuse Future for the UK, was published by Reuse and Refill, a coalition of environmental groups, retailers, and packaging innovators, including Greenpeace, WRAP, Abel & Cole and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
It outlines a roadmap for scaling reusable packaging systems across sectors including grocery, personal care, e-commerce and food service.
Potential for environmental and economic impact
The report estimates that a national 30 percent reuse target could cut annual carbon emissions by over 2.5 million tonnes—the equivalent of taking 1.6 million cars off the road. This shift would also eliminate over 1.5 million tonnes of plastic and cardboard packaging waste each year.
Campaigners argue that reuse systems could generate cost savings for retailers over time, compared with continually sourcing new single-use materials. At present, only 1–2 percent of consumer packaging in the UK is reusable.
The report suggests scaling this to 10 percent by 2030 and reaching 30 percent by 2035.
Policy recommendations and industry support
To reach these targets, the report proposes a combination of regulation, infrastructure investment and incentives. These include standardising reusable packaging formats, introducing mandatory reporting requirements, and providing start-up funding for reuse pilots.
Organisations backing the report stress that voluntary initiatives alone will not deliver meaningful change.
They call for clear government policy to encourage industry-wide adoption of reuse systems and suggest integrating reuse targets into extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.
Growing demand for refillable and reusable packaging
Consumer interest in refillable and returnable packaging has been growing, particularly in the grocery and personal care sectors.
Retailers such as M&S, Co-op and Tesco have trialled reuse schemes, while delivery platforms including Abel & Cole and Loop have explored circular packaging models.
Despite early trials, uptake has been slow without regulatory backing.
The report argues that stronger legislation could create a level playing field and accelerate business investment in reusable packaging systems, ultimately reducing reliance on single-use plastic and improving the UK’s waste management outcomes.
