Research must provide clarity on digital deposits

Photo credit: Saskia Risseeuw To put a stop to litter, the Flemish, Brussels and Walloon governments want to introduce a deposit return system in 2025. A decision must be made by the end of 2023. Recently, this has also included a so-called 'digital deposit system' promoted by Fost Plus, Comeos and Fevia. Because digital deposit is an unproven idea and has met with a fair share of criticism, Fair Resource Foundation has asked research consultancy Eunomia to critically evaluate digital deposit. Part of the Belgian industry launched the idea of introducing a digital deposit system last year. Under this system, consumers must scan a unique QR code on the packaging using a smartphone before placing it in the blue bag, which also features a QR code that must be scanned. With a new IT system, linked to a bank account and also with additional blue public bins with QR codes, consumers should be able to get their deposit back in this way at home and on the go. Other countries have also discussed digital deposit systems and tests have been carried out in Wales, but for now only deposit systems with return in supermarkets are being successfully rolled out in Europe. The Belgian industry previously commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to demonstrate that a digital deposit system is "better than the classic system". This study, which was critically received, was kept secret for a long time, until Minister Zuhal Demir decided on her own initiative to make the study public. Setup of the study Fair Resource Foundation has now asked Eunomia to conduct research into digital deposits. Various actors, including the Belgian business community, make claims about this form of deposit, such as that it would be cheaper, easier for the consumer, and works just as well against litter. Claims are also made about the quality of recycling and the feasibility of implementing the system. The Eunomia study will test such claims. It will look, among other things, at: the technical feasibility of the system, asking whether the system can be in force by 2025, as determined by the governments of the three regions; accessibility and convenience for the consumer, also looking at the privacy and security of the system; the expected environmental benefits. Does it help against litter just as well as a classic deposit system? Does the system, like a classic deposit system, enable closed-loop recycling for plastic bottles and cans? And does the system also help with the transition towards refillable packaging?; other challenges that need to be addressed before the system can be rolled out. Eunomia's researchers will also conduct interviews with various stakeholders such as companies, governments and also civil society stakeholders. When the research is completed, it will be made public in its entirety. The study will be published around August-September of this year. European developments The decision to introduce a deposit system in 2025 fits within a broader European trend in which more and more countries are following the example of Germany and the Scandinavian countries. This is partly due to European regulations. Indeed, the Single Use Plastics Directive obliges EU countries to collect 90% of plastic bottles separately, and this is only possible with a deposit system. The current blue bag system is not suitable to achieve that target. In addition, the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), currently being negotiated in Brussels, aims to introduce a deposit system for plastic bottles and cans throughout Europe. The regulation also contains targets for reusable packaging and rules to ensure that deposit systems are highly accessible for reusable packaging. Contact information Fair Resource Foundation Chloé Schwizgebel, chloe@fairresourcefoundation.org Mob. +31 6 43 28 82 31

Photo credit: Saskia Risseeuw

To put a stop to litter, the Flemish, Brussels and Walloon governments want to introduce a deposit return system in 2025. A decision must be made by the end of 2023. Recently, this has also included a so-called 'digital deposit system' promoted by Fost Plus, Comeos and Fevia. Because digital deposit is an unproven idea and has met with a fair share of criticism, Fair Resource Foundation has asked research consultancy Eunomia to critically evaluate digital deposit.

Part of the Belgian industry launched the idea of introducing a digital deposit system last year. Under this system, consumers must scan a unique QR code on the packaging using a smartphone before placing it in the blue bag, which also features a QR code that must be scanned. With a new IT system, linked to a bank account and also with additional blue public bins with QR codes, consumers should be able to get their deposit back in this way at home and on the go.

Other countries have also discussed digital deposit systems and tests have been carried out in Wales, but for now only deposit systems with return in supermarkets are being successfully rolled out in Europe. The Belgian industry previously commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to demonstrate that a digital deposit system is "better than the classic system". This study, which was critically received, was kept secret for a long time, until Minister Zuhal Demir decided on her own initiative to make the study public.

Setup of the study

Fair Resource Foundation has now asked Eunomia to conduct research into digital deposits. Various actors, including the Belgian business community, make claims about this form of deposit, such as that it would be cheaper, easier for the consumer, and works just as well against litter. Claims are also made about the quality of recycling and the feasibility of implementing the system.

The Eunomia study will test such claims. It will look, among other things, at:

the technical feasibility of the system, asking whether the system can be in force by 2025, as determined by the governments of the three regions;

accessibility and convenience for the consumer, also looking at the privacy and security of the system;

the expected environmental benefits. Does it help against litter just as well as a classic deposit system? Does the system, like a classic deposit system, enable closed-loop recycling for plastic bottles and cans? And does the system also help with the transition towards refillable packaging?;

other challenges that need to be addressed before the system can be rolled out.

Eunomia's researchers will also conduct interviews with various stakeholders such as companies, governments and also civil society stakeholders. When the research is completed, it will be made public in its entirety. The study will be published around August-September of this year.

European developments

The decision to introduce a deposit system in 2025 fits within a broader European trend in which more and more countries are following the example of Germany and the Scandinavian countries. This is partly due to European regulations. Indeed, the Single Use Plastics Directive obliges EU countries to collect 90% of plastic bottles separately, and this is only possible with a deposit system. The current blue bag system is not suitable to achieve that target.

In addition, the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), currently being negotiated in Brussels, aims to introduce a deposit system for plastic bottles and cans throughout Europe. The regulation also contains targets for reusable packaging and rules to ensure that deposit systems are highly accessible for reusable packaging.

Contact information

Fair Resource FoundationChloé Schwizgebel, chloe@fairresourcefoundation.org Mob. +31 6 43 28 82 31