INC-5

A Critical Juncture for Reuse, Refill, and Deposit in the Fight Against Plastic Pollution

 As the world prepares for INC-5, the fifth round of negotiations for a global plastic treaty, there is growing momentum to address one of our most urgent environmental challenges: plastic pollution. This conference represents a turning point where delegates have a historic opportunity to shape ambitious policies and solutions that not only reduce plastic waste but also prioritize sustainable alternatives. Among these alternatives, establishing a robust framework for reuse, refill, and deposit systems will be essential for transforming how we produce, consume, and manage plastics.

 

What We Look Forward to During INC-5

During INC-5, we hope to see world leaders take decisive steps towards making reuse and refill systems a core part of the global plastic treaty. This includes establishing clear, binding commitments for countries to adopt reuse targets, implement deposit systems for beverage containers, and prioritize plastic reduction over recycling. Given the growing recognition of reuse as an effective solution, INC-5 offers an invaluable opportunity to incorporate concrete measures that scale up existing systems and incentivize innovative reuse infrastructure. A successful outcome would include commitments to set measurable targets, financial mechanisms for implementation, and capacity-building efforts to ensure fair, effective action across regions.

 

The Role of Reuse, Refill, and Deposit Systems in the Fight Against Plastic Pollution

A fundamental shift toward reuse, refill, and deposit systems is key to tackling the plastic crisis at its roots. Plastic pollution continues to increase due to the prevalence of single-use packaging, which, without a return incentive, rarely makes its way back into the system. Deposit Return Systems (DRS) for both single-use and reusable beverage containers have proven to be among the most effective strategies worldwide, both in the Global North and South, to prevent plastic waste from entering the environment.

For DRS to function effectively, all stakeholders—producers, retailers, policymakers, and consumers—must be engaged. Producers should be incentivized to design durable, refillable containers, while retailers play a role in the logistics of collection and reuse. Consumers, in turn, contribute by returning containers, reducing the demand for new single-use plastic. With clear, achievable reuse quotas, the plastic treaty can establish a framework that gradually replaces the disposable culture with a sustainable, circular model for packaging.

 

A Systemic and Holistic Approach to Plastic Reduction

To truly address plastic pollution, we need a systemic and holistic approach that prioritizes waste prevention through reduction and reuse rather than focusing on end-of-life management like recycling. This means embedding reuse systems within a broader circular economy framework where products are designed to have longer lifespans, and materials are kept in circulation. Such an approach must include:

  • Regulatory Targets and Incentives: Setting ambitious, globally recognized targets for reusable packaging across sectors, from beverage containers to other consumer goods.
  • Financial Mechanisms and Capacity Building: Establishing support structures to aid countries in building the infrastructure needed for reuse, with a particular emphasis on supporting lower-GDP countries.
  • Just Transition Principles: Including provisions that protect vulnerable communities, such as waste pickers and workers in informal sectors, to ensure the shift to reuse is equitable and sustainable.

INC-5 must embrace this integrated approach, making reuse an integral part of a broader solution rather than an isolated tactic. This will not only reduce plastic pollution but also promote a transition to a truly circular economy that respects ecological limits and human health.

 

The Solution: A Comprehensive Deposit Return System (DRS)

A well-designed DRS that encompasses both single-use and reusable containers has the potential to drastically reduce plastic pollution. This system creates a financial incentive for consumers to return containers for reuse or recycling, ensuring that materials re-enter the supply chain instead of ending up in landfills or oceans. For maximum impact, such a system should include:

  • Mandatory, Increasing Reuse Quotas: Requiring annual growth in the share of reusable containers in the market, applicable to producers and retailers alike, to foster a gradual transition toward reuse.
  • Glass as a Key Component: Emphasizing glass as a reusable, durable alternative to plastic containers.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Involving governments, industries, and consumers in a coordinated effort to build and maintain the infrastructure needed for an effective DRS.

When implemented thoughtfully, DRS is an accessible, proven solution that can support both local and global efforts to reduce plastic waste. It helps countries meet their plastic reduction targets and fosters the development of a reuse culture that can expand to other areas of production and consumption.

 

The Path Forward

Looking beyond INC-5, it is crucial to set the stage for ongoing commitments that make reuse systems a pillar of the global plastic treaty. This includes empowering the Conference of the Parties (COP) to develop guidelines for best practices, harmonizing standards for reuse systems, and ensuring adequate financial resources are available for developing and maintaining reuse infrastructure.

The treaty should also address systemic changes to foster collaboration across the plastic value chain, from design and production to collection and reuse. Ultimately, this treaty must support a global shift away from single-use plastics by making reuse not just viable but preferable for both consumers and businesses.

With comprehensive deposit and reuse policies, we can reduce plastic pollution, create green jobs, and mitigate the health and environmental impacts of disposable culture. INC-5 is a chance to take real action toward these goals. Through binding commitments, financial support, and cross-sector collaboration, we can pave the way for a future where reuse is the standard—and plastic waste is a thing of the past.