For a deposit and return system to work, governments need data, tools, and international cooperation. This global platform can be key to helping more countries implement effective and sustainable models.

Islands and protected areas are on the front lines of the plastic crisis. A global deposit and return platform gives us
the tools to protect these unique ecosystems and reduce the social impact of pollution.

Every day when I fight for reuse, users complain about the difficulty of setting up collection. By proposing a deposit system as standard, this difficulty will be erased for all products, gently paving the way for systematic reuse systems.

A truly effective deposit and return system must be inclusive. If we leave people out of the solution, we’re not solving the problem—we’re just shifting it elsewhere.

Deposit and return systems don’t just reduce plastic pollution—they create economic opportunities for local communities. A global platform will help us scale these solutions and drive real impact.

Tackling plastic pollution isn’t just about waste management—it’s about people, communities, and fair opportunities. A global deposit and return system must integrate social and environmental perspectives to create real change.

Protecting fragile ecosystems like the Galápagos requires innovative solutions. A global deposit and return platform can help reduce plastic pollution at the source and strengthen conservation efforts where they are needed most.

Real change comes from communities. A global deposit and return system can empower people and fill the gap in large-scale reuse initiatives.

We’ve helped set up DRS and product stewardship initiatives in island nations like Antigua & Barbuda, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands—boosting collection rates and removing abandoned plastic. We hope this platform helps us to replicate these successes worldwide.

We have more than a billion reusable bottles in our system in Germany with a return rate of 99% thanks to DRS. With this platform we hope to see many other countries get to similar levels of collection of refillable packaging and high quality recycling.

A well-designed Deposit Return System (DRS) turns waste into opportunity—reducing pollution while creating jobs in collection, reuse, and closed-loop recycling. It’s a proven path to a cleaner planet and a thriving circular economy.

Marine and coastal ecosystems are under growing pressure from plastic pollution. A global deposit and return platform could help stop waste before it reaches our oceans, protecting biodiversity and the health of our planet.

Innovating in environmental management means designing smarter, integral and efficient systems. A global deposit and return platform can help optimize resource use and build transformative solutions to reduce our environmental footprint.

Over the years, we have seen the devastating effects on respiratory health brought about as a result of poor waste collection and disposal in Kenya. With the participation of local communities, deposit and return systems can help in addressing this challenge by turning the tide and ensuring better living conditions for all.

Single-use containers invasion over the last decades have been displacing local zero waste systems. A well-designed DRS brings funding to cities and must include waste workers, while also removing the burden for companies of having dedicated collection or logistics.

The Global Deposit and Return Platform will contribute, together with local knowledge and leadership, to drive better waste management, prevention and reuse in all countries around the globe, including those where I work mostly in Africa; showcasing best practices, sharing evidence, and supporting national DRS systems as one of the key policies to go forward.

Bridging policy and practice is essential for a truly circular economy. A global deposit and return platform connects effective policies with real-world solutions, driving reuse and high-quality recycling systems worldwide.