Prioritizing Reuse

Prioritizing reuse requires a significant shift in consumer culture throughout society. The way we currently package, acquire, use, and dispose of goods both at home and in the workplace is on the verge of a major change. Mainstreaming reuse will require various changes across society.

Short-lived, single-use plastic products cause environmental problems, and reusing products and packaging has been recognized as a potential solution to mitigate these issues.

We have published five recommendations that promote the adoption of sustainable and reusable plastic packaging and products, as well as a shift in consumer attitudes:

1. We need dialogue to resolve conflicts of interest. Reuse is an opportunity!

2. Solutions based on environmental, economic, safety, and social impacts must be sought through interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral cooperation.

3. To develop return systems and large-scale industrial reuse, we need trials involving cooperation among producers, retailers, logistics, the public and third sectors, reuse services, and waste management.

4. Citizens play a key role. This must be supported with incentives, services, communication, and education.

5. Tax incentives, financial instruments, ambitious goal-setting, and determination are needed to strengthen reuse. The appeal of new goods should be reduced through regulation and influencing attitudes.

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The recommendations (in Finnish) (helda.fi)  
The recommendations are based on the results of a transition arena on pathways leading to plastic reuse, organized as part of a collaboration between the Finnish Environment Institute and Aalto University. The Plastic Reuse Transition Arena is part of the PlastLIFE project, coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute, which aims at promoting sustainable plastic circularity under the national Plastics Roadmap for Finland program. PlastLIFE, running until end of 2029, is funded by the EU's LIFE program.

Further Information