The following actions, individually or collectively, will contribute to achieving the outcomes of reducing the environmental impacts of paper or fibre packaging thru the adoption of reuse and refill formats.
Available Courses of Action
- Action 1 – Consider Reusable Packaging Solutions
Action 1 – Consider Reusable Packaging Solutions
Reusable packaging provides an innovative approach to reducing the environmental impact of single use packaging. Although logistics and other operational considerations are frequently identified as a key challenge to adopting reusable packaging, the historical acceptance of reusable packaging is driving a resurgence in exploring this sustainable packaging alternative.
The following use case(s) provide examples of where reusable packaging has been demonstrated.
Use Cases
| Use Case | Innovation | Application | Release to Market |
| ASDA Reuse Model | UK supermarket retailer Asda stocks 100+ branded and own-brand products in large refill zone: an alternative for many products packaged with paper and plastic | Focus on 4 categories: cereals; pet food; store cupboard (e.g., snacks, tea, coffee); rice, pasta and pulses | 2021 |
Supporting Resources
Useful resources to consider as you explore applying one or more of the above actions to paper and fibre packaging include:
General Information
- National Reuse Program Pilot March 2024
Circular Innovation CouncilCircular Innovation Council will be designing and delivering a first-of-its-kind national reuse program aimed at eliminating single use plastic waste. This program is supported by a coalition of national grocery retailers including Metro, Sobeys, and Walmart Canada, and with support from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the City of Ottawa. This will be the largest collaborative reuse program in Canada.
Starting with the delivery of a reusable food container pilot planned for launch in Ottawa in mid 2024, this national program will demonstrate scalable, convenient, and permanent solutions to reducing single use plastic packaging through innovative, collaborative reuse models.
- Barriers and Opportunities for Driving Reuse in Canada 2022
ReUse Refill CanadaIdentifies the barriers to reusable and refillable systems in Canada for consumer packaging, and what policymakers can do to reduce these barriers. - How to Help Consumers Adopt Reusable Packaging 2021
IGD – UKBased on consumer research using over 2000 UK consumers, this report outlines key opportunities to help adopt reusable/refillable packaging solutions, while offering helpful insight into prioritizing reuse model types, and shifting consumer behavior to help drive change to making reusable packaging more mainstream.