Closing the Loop on Packaging (Part 2): Smart Design for Recyclability & Material Innovation
Welcome back to our "Closing the Loop" series. In the first article, we defined the circular economy and its vital importance for the drinks industry, particularly with new regulatory landscapes like Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) and the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) shaping our future. Last week we explored the power of reuse and refill models – strategies that sit highest on the waste hierarchy.
However, we recognise that for many applications, single-use packaging remains, for now, a widespread reality. So, if we are using packaging designed for a single primary use – predominantly glass bottles and aluminium cans in our industry – how do we ensure it has the best possible chance of staying in circulation, contributing to a circular economy rather than becoming waste? The answer lies in designing for recyclability and embracing material innovation specifically for these materials.
The Future of Drinks Packaging
The packaging that drinks brands come in presents a significant sustainability challenge and a massive creative opportunity. Glass, plastic, aluminium, and composite materials each have their own distinct pros and cons in regards to their environmental impacts and their supporters. The industry must move beyond debates over which is the "best" material, which are clogging up my LinkedIn feed, and race at Usain Bolt speed towards practical, systemic improvements in materials, design, and end of life solutions.
We simply have to do everything, everywhere, all at once.
The Return of Deposit Return Schemes
After years of debate, the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (commonly referred to as DRS) has passed through Parliament, with implementation scheduled for October 2027.
What will be included? How much will it cost? And, crucially, how can brands prepare for the changes while keeping costs under control? We thought it would be helpful to break down the details, highlight the challenges, and explore the opportunities the DRS presents for drinks brands.