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Reuse models are on the rise. If you want to improve your environmental impact and drive more circularity, reuse solutions are worth considering – if they can be applied to any of your products.
Designing for reuse can be done in a number of ways, and this is a growing area, with technology developing rapidly. Staying up to date with new innovations is important in the world of packaging sustainability so you are aware of product-specific solutions coming on-line. Though don’t rule out the idea that you could be the one coming up with innovative ideas for a reuse model – unique to your specific product. There are lots of innovative individual solutions to be found across different sectors and product categories!
There are four different types of reuse models to choose from, depending on your product:
- Refill from home. Example: cleaning concentrates that can be mixed with water and added to a reusable spray bottle
- Return from home. Example: having a milkman pick up your used glass milk jars while dropping off new ones
- Refill on-the-go. Example: refilling dry goods into your own containers at the grocery store
- Return on-the-go. Example: bottle deposit returns, clothing rental services that require drop off at a postal facility, bottle deposit returns
To help you consider which reuse model(s) might apply, here are some questions you can ask yourself when thinking about transitioning to reuse:
- Could we make our product into a concentrated version?
- Is there a way for consumers to refill the product packaging?
- Is there a way for consumers to return the product packaging (for example: free shipping return labels or localized drop off sites)?
- Can we reuse our packaging if sanitized, and do we have resources to sanitize them?
- Would we be creating other negative environmental impacts by implementing a reuse model (for instance, carbon emissions from shipping packaging back and forth)?What have other businesses tried successfully or unsuccessfully in my sector?
- When my reusable packaging does eventually reach the end of its life after a certain amount of uses, is there a way for it to be recycled, composted, or repurposed?
- Is my reusable packaging accessible to my target market?
We can all learn a thing or two from the old milkman model of distribution and reuse. This is idealistic, but not always realistic. At rePurpose Global, we are optimistic that reuse models are the way of the future with a circular economy in mind. But we will not get there with a snap of our fingers. We will get there through collaboration, innovation, and trial and error.
Have you created an innovative reuse model for your product? We’d love to hear about it!
