{"id":9401,"date":"2025-09-23T04:40:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T08:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=9401"},"modified":"2025-09-23T04:40:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T08:40:12","slug":"deposit-return-schemes-in-focus-as-europe-tightens-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=9401","title":{"rendered":"Deposit return schemes in focus as Europe tightens rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-image\">\n<figure class=\"article-image__container\">\n                                    <picture><source media=\"(min-width: 990px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packaging-gateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2025\/09\/DRS-770x433.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 430px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packaging-gateway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2025\/09\/DRS-940x528.jpg\"\/>\n                                    <\/picture><figcaption class=\"c-featured-image__description\">The guide helps EU countries create tailored recycling systems that meet Europe\u2019s ambitious targets. \/ Credit: Losonsky via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"drop-cap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/unesda.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRS-Playbook_August-2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">A new guidebook<\/a> has been launched in Europe to help countries improve recycling of drink containers like plastic bottles and cans.<\/p>\n<p>The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Playbook, published by Natural Mineral Waters Europe and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, gives practical advice on how governments can set up and run deposit return schemes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"in-article-premium-insights mobile-useragent-scalar\">\n<section class=\"gms-b2b-marketing\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packaging-gateway.com\/wp-content\/themes\/goodlife-wp-B2B\/assets\/images\/GMS-logo.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<h4> Discover B2B Marketing That Performs <\/h4>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCombine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globaldatamarketingsolutions.com\/\" class=\"gms-find-out-more\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out more <span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"13\" height=\"9\" viewbox=\"0 0 13 9\" fill=\"none\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11.685 4.5548L1.25586 4.5548L11.685 4.5548Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><path d=\"M11.685 4.5548L1.25586 4.5548\" stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"1.03145\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M7.85693 0.918855L11.9827 4.5731L7.85693 8.33789\" stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"1.03145\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p>The timing is important: the European Union (EU) has introduced stricter packaging and recycling rules, and countries now need to collect 90% of plastic bottles by 2029.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-changing-in-eu-recycling-rules\">What\u2019s changing in EU recycling rules?<\/h2>\n<p>The EU\u2019s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which came into force in February 2025, replaces older packaging laws. Its goals are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make all packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030.<\/li>\n<li>Increase the amount of recycled material in packaging.<\/li>\n<li>Reduce harmful substances.<\/li>\n<li>Cut down overall packaging waste.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These rules build on the Single-Use Plastics Directive, which requires countries to collect 77% of plastic bottles by 2025, rising to 90% by 2029.<\/p>\n<p>The new regulation also includes metal cans in these targets and introduces clearer rules on labelling, reuse systems, and recycled content.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-deposit-return-schemes-work\">How deposit return schemes work<\/h2>\n<p>In a DRS, consumers pay a small deposit when buying a drink in a bottle or can. They get the money back when they return the empty container to a collection point, such as a shop or vending machine.<\/p>\n<p>The system encourages recycling and helps ensure materials are collected cleanly, so they can be turned into new bottles and cans.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-the-playbook-offers\">What the Playbook offers<\/h2>\n<p>The DRS Playbook is designed to help countries build systems that are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Efficient and affordable to run.<\/li>\n<li>Convenient for consumers, with plenty of easy return options.<\/li>\n<li>Effective in recycling, ensuring materials can go back into new drink packaging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The guide is based on real examples from countries that already use DRS successfully, like some Nordic nations where return rates reach around 95%.<\/p>\n<p>Importantly, it does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all model but offers adaptable guidance.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-challenges-ahead\">Challenges ahead<\/h2>\n<p>Setting up a DRS is not simple. Countries must decide:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How to fund the system \u2013 who pays for the deposits and the running costs.<\/li>\n<li>How many return points to provide, and where they should be.<\/li>\n<li>How to link the scheme with existing recycling systems.<\/li>\n<li>How to prevent fraud or losses, and make sure collected material is high quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Public support is also crucial: if consumers don\u2019t find the system easy to use, return rates will stay low.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-looking-forward\">Looking forward<\/h2>\n<p>The launch of the DRS Playbook comes at a key moment, with many EU countries now planning or redesigning their own schemes. If widely adopted, it could speed up progress toward meeting the EU\u2019s ambitious recycling targets.<\/p>\n<p>What remains to be seen is how each country will adapt the guidance to fit its own laws, infrastructure, and culture \u2014 and how quickly systems can be up and running before the 2029 deadline.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Newsletter banner start --><\/p>\n<p><!-- <link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\"> --><\/p>\n<div class=\"grid-container\">\n<section class=\"gdm-newsletter-banner__container\">\n<div class=\"grid-x gdm-newsletter-banner__wrapper-container gdm-newsletter-banner__wrapper-container--article\">\n<div class=\"cell large-9 gdm-newsletter-banner-info__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"gdm-newsletter-banner-logo__container\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packaging-gateway.com\/wp-content\/themes\/goodlife-wp-B2B\/assets\/images\/newsletter-new.svg\" alt=\"Email newsletter icon\"\/>\n                <\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"gdm-newsletter-banner__heading wp-noreslt\">Sign up for our daily news round-up!<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"gdm-newsletter-banner__sub-heading\">Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights.<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Newsletter banner end --><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<h2>Packaging Gateway Excellence Awards &#8211; The Benefits of Entering<\/h2>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\">Gain the recognition you deserve! 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Don\u2019t miss your chance to stand out\u2014submit your entry today!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.packaging-gateway.com\/excellence-awards\/?utm_source=verdict_news&amp;utm_medium=footer_cta&amp;utm_campaign=EA_2025_news&amp;utm_id=exawards2025\" class=\"excellence-awards-link\"><strong style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Nominate Now<\/strong><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<footer class=\"article-footer\">\n                                <!-- article-actions start --><\/p>\n<p><!-- .gdm-article-actions -->                                <!-- article-actions end --><br \/>\n                            <\/footer>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.packaging-gateway.com\/news\/deposit-return-schemes-in-focus-as-europe-tightens-rules\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The guide helps EU countries create tailored recycling systems that meet Europe\u2019s ambitious targets. \/ Credit: Losonsky via Shutterstock A new guidebook has been launched in Europe to help countries improve recycling of drink containers like plastic bottles and cans. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Playbook, published by Natural Mineral Waters Europe and UNESDA Soft [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":9402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[2624],"class_list":["post-9401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-packaging-news","tag-deposit-return-schemes-in-focus-as-europe-tightens-rules"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}