How Belgian policy can encourage reuse in the fight against single-use plastics

This article describes the usefulness and necessity of ambitious government policies to stimulate reusable packaging.

One of the goals of the European Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) is to promote the use of reusable products and particularly packaging. The European directive specifically obliges member states to achieve an ambitious and sustained reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic beverage cups and food containers by 2026 compared to 2022. This type of packaging is a daily example of waste and is frequently found in litter. Therefore, federal Minister of the Environment Khattabi proposes a ban on single-use plastic beverage cups and meal containers for take-away consumption in the draft Royal Decree (see box below) in order to stimulate sustainable alternatives.

Implementation of the SUPD in Belgium

Officially, the Single Use Plastic Directive should have been implemented in all European member states by 3 July. Belgium is one of the countries that failed to meet this deadline as the legislative process has been delayed. In order to avoid an infringement procedure, speed is now required.

The SUPD includes several measures to tackle single-use plastic products, some of which will also be implemented at regional level. At federal level, the EU Directive is transposed via the Royal Decree on single-use products and for the promotion of reusable products (hereinafter: the Royal Decree, RD). The overarching goal of the Royal Decree is: "to prevent and reduce the impact of certain single-use products on the environment, and to promote reusable products and the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials". The RD is expected to be finalized in the Council of Ministers in September. The ban on single-use beverage cups and meal containers remains a subject of discussion.

What is the problem? 

Over the past 10 years, the amount of household single-use packaging increased by 10%, to 877,000 tonnes in 2019 (OVAM, 2021). The impact of the COVID crisis on the amount of packaging has not yet been quantified, but there is undoubtedly a significant increase in take-away and delivery meals in single-use packaging. The majority of this packaging ends up in residual waste, destined for incineration, or ends up in litter (Schmid, 2018; Morales, 2021). In short, a waste of raw materials that does not fit with Belgian plans for a circular economy.

While the amount of single-use packaging is rising, the share of household reusable packaging is falling. This is shown in the 2020 Activity Report of the Interregional Packaging Commission (IVC). Long before the SUPD, legal agreements on reusable packaging were made in the Cooperation Agreement on the prevention and management of packaging waste. This agreement states that the share of reusable packaging for the same goods may not decrease compared to the previous year. The share of reusable packaging on the market should even be increased. However, these provisions appear to be a dead letter because in practice they are unfortunately not respected by the packaging sector. Reusable packaging on the market is currently very limited and restricted only to glass bottles for beer, soft drinks and water (see graph below). The IVC must ensure on behalf of the Flemish, Brussels and Walloon Regions that the Cooperation Agreement on the prevention and management of packaging waste is complied with. But despite the downward trend, there is no enforcement. In short, it is high time that action is finally taken to increase the share of reusable packaging.

What are the benefits of reuse?

To achieve the transition to a circular economy, we must focus on prevention and reuse. Replacing single-use packaging with reusable packaging leads to less raw material consumption, fewer CO2 emissions and less (litter) waste (UU, 2020, LCI, 2021; OVAM, 2021). According to the report Realising Reuse by Rethink Plastics, reuse systems also offer economic benefits and opportunities for new business models and employment on a local/regional scale. According to the report, replacing 50% of single-use beverage cups and meal containers with reusable alternatives in Europe could save up to 27.1 million tonnes of raw materials; 7.4 billion m3 of water; 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and 10.4 billion euros (by 2030).

Reusable meal containers are initially more expensive to purchase than single-use packaging, but the investment can quickly be recouped because of savings on the costs of new single-use packaging.

When is packaging "sustainable"?

This article describes the usefulness and necessity of ambitious government policies to stimulate reusable packaging.

One of the goals of the European Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) is to promote the use of reusable products and particularly packaging. The European directive specifically obliges member states to achieve an ambitious and sustained reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic beverage cups and food containers by 2026 compared to 2022. This type of packaging is a daily example of waste and is frequently found in litter. Therefore, federal Minister of the Environment Khattabi proposes a ban on single-use plastic beverage cups and meal containers for take-away consumption in the draft Royal Decree (see box below) in order to stimulate sustainable alternatives.

Implementation of the SUPD in Belgium Officially, the Single Use Plastic Directive should have been implemented in all European member states by 3 July. The SUPD includes several measures to tackle single-use plastic products, some of which will also be implemented at regional level. At federal level, the EU Directive is transposed via the Royal Decree on single-use products and for the promotion of reusable products (hereinafter: the Royal Decree, RD). The overarching goal of the Royal Decree is: "to prevent and reduce the impact of certain single-use products on the environment, and to promote reusable products and the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials". The RD is expected to be finalized in the

What is the problem?

Over the past 10 years, the amount of household single-use packaging increased by 10%, to 877,000 tonnes in 2019 (OVAM, 2021). The impact of the COVID crisis on the amount of packaging has not yet been quantified, but there is undoubtedly a significant increase in take-away and delivery meals in single-use packaging. The majority of this packaging ends up in residual waste, destined for incineration, or ends up in litter (Schmid, 2018; Morales, 2021). In short, a waste of raw materials that does not fit with Belgian plans for a circular economy.

While the amount of single-use packaging is rising, the share of household reusable packaging is falling. This is shown in the 2020 Activity Report of the Interregional Packaging Commission (IVC). Long before the SUPD, legal agreements on reusable packaging were made in the Cooperation Agreement on the prevention and management of packaging waste. This agreement states that the share of reusable packaging for the same goods may not decrease compared to the previous year. The share of reusable packaging on the market should even be increased. However, these provisions appear to be a dead letter because in practice they are unfortunately not respected by the packaging sector. Reusable packaging on the market is currently very limited and restricted only to glass bottles for beer, soft drinks and water (see graph below). The IVC must ensure on behalf of the Flemish, Brussels and Walloon Regions that the Cooperation Agreement on the prevention and management of packaging waste is complied with. But despite the downward trend, there is no enforcement. In short, it is high time that action is finally taken to increase the share of reusable packaging.

What are the benefits of reuse?

To achieve the transition to a circular economy, we must focus on prevention and reuse. Replacing single-use packaging with reusable packaging leads to less raw material consumption, fewer CO2 emissions and less (litter) waste (UU, 2020, LCI, 2021; OVAM, 2021). According to the report Realising Reuse by Rethink Plastics, reuse systems also offer economic benefits and opportunities for new business models and employment on a local/regional scale. According to the report, replacing 50% of single-use beverage cups and meal containers with reusable alternatives in Europe could save up to 27.1 million tonnes of raw materials; 7.4 billion m3 of water; 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and 10.4 billion euros (by 2030).

Reusable meal containers are initially more expensive to purchase than single-use packaging, but the investment can quickly be recouped because of savings on the costs of new single-use packaging.

When is packaging "sustainable"?

Many companies present their packaging as sustainable. However, these are often unsubstantiated claims that do not meet strict criteria (ECOS, 2021). Packaging is only truly sustainable when it is not only designed based on ecodesign principles but is also part of a reuse system. We speak of a reuse system when packaging and the system around it are designed to use the packaging a minimum number of times for its original purpose. Generally, the more often the packaging is reused (thus longer lifespan), the more single-use packaging is avoided (thus less raw material consumption), and the greater the environmental gain (and cost efficiency) per use cycle.

What does the consumer/citizen think about reuse?