Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, is advising beverage producers to reassess their choice of closures ahead of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and a market increasingly shaped by reuse and return systems.
The PPWR framework includes reuse targets for beverages, including a requirement that 10% of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are made available in reusable packaging within a system for reuse by 1 January 2030, increasing to 40% by 2040.
At the same time, deposit return schemes (DRS) are being introduced or expanded in multiple markets as a practical way to support return and recovery. A DRS typically works by applying a small, refundable deposit to beverage containers, which is returned to consumers when empty containers are brought back to a designated return point, helping increase collection rates and improve the quality of recovered material streams.
Uli Kobert, product line director at Amcor, said, “PPWR is accelerating the shift towards reuse systems, and that has real implications for packaging choices. Amcor supports customers with closure solutions for reusable PET and glass bottles, alongside technical expertise, to help them prepare for deposit return schemes and the operational realities of reuse, delivering responsible packaging solutions without compromising on performance”.
For beverage brands moving towards reuse models, packaging performance requirements also change. Reusable containers are exposed to repeated handling and processing stresses, such as washing chemicals, temperature shifts and repeated filling cycles, which can increase wear in functional areas and raise the bar for consistent sealing performance over time.
In established schemes, return performance can be very high. Germany is frequently referenced as one of the world’s highest-performing deposit systems, with widely cited figures indicating a 98% return rate for eligible single-use drink containers, supported by convenient return locations and a meaningful deposit value.
Amcor develops and produces responsible consumer packaging and dispensing solutions across a variety of materials for nutrition, health, beauty and wellness categories. It produces a range of flexible packaging, rigid packaging, cartons and closures that are more sustainable, functional and appealing for our customers and their consumers.
