Shoppers Want Reusable Packaging to Tackle Single-Use Waste – Here’s Why
At City to Sea, we’re on a mission to tackle single-use plastic waste, and it’s clear the public is right behind us. Our latest poll reveals that a massive 75% of UK public believe reusable packaging must replace single-use packaging in the next 10 years to really make a difference in tackling plastic pollution.
The demand for reusable, refillable, and returnable packaging is louder than ever. It’s time to make things happen and make reuse systems widely available and accessible for all in the long run.
Please read on to learn more about our research findings, and how you can access the keys to unlock reuse at scale.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Our polling, conducted by Yonder with 2,067 UK adults on 5th and 6th February 2025, shows that 64% of people think reusable, refillable, and returnable packaging is a more effective way to reduce waste than recycling.
And when it comes to tackling plastic pollution? 75% agree that recycling just isn’t enough. Only 9% of plastic has ever been successfully recycled, so most of it ends up in landfills, gets incinerated, or, worse, ends up in the environment.
But there’s hope! And lots of it.
People are turning to alternatives, with reusable, refillable and returnable packaging being the light in the very murky landscape of single-use. 77% of the public think it’s high time retailers start offering reusable, refillable solutions long-term, not just as short-term pilot schemes. So that solutions are widely available where people shop.
And so do we.
The Government’s Role
We know it shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of individuals either – 69% of people believe the government should set legally binding targets to make reusable and refillable packaging a reality.
That’s where the real, lasting change happens: with strong policies and clear targets. Investment is needed from both the government and businesses to create a sustainable circular economy that can tackle plastic waste and, ultimately, help fight climate change.
The Countdown to the Global Reuse Summit 2025
To make this shift happen, City to Sea is gearing up for the Global Reuse Summit on March 12, 2025 – our game-changing event for the reuse sector, in partnership with Ecosurety. This year’s summit, held in person at We The Curious in Bristol and live streamed online, will feature a range of inspiring speakers and expert panels. We’ll be discussing everything from how businesses can embrace reusable packaging to the policies needed to drive change.
Speakers will include Baroness Natalie Bennett (Green Party Peer), Catherine Conway (member of the DEFRA Circular Economy Taskforce), and Safia Qureshi (Founder & CEO, Club Zero), as well as industry experts who will dive into how we can transition to a reusable economy.
The Big Picture: A Circular Economy
A circular economy is a system where materials are reused, repaired, and recycled to keep resources in use for as long as possible. And 75% of people agree that this type of economy is critical to tackling climate change. It’s time for the shift, and we need everyone – businesses, governments, and consumers – to work together to make it happen.
What’s Next?
The truth is, it’s time for government AND retailers to step up and commit to long-term solutions that are embedded in their strategies Consumers are ready for reusable packaging, and the environment needs it. Reusable, refillable, and returnable packaging is no longer a “nice to have” – it’s a must-have. As Jane Martin, our CEO at City to Sea, puts it: “Imagine a world of refilling and returning, rather than dumping and burning.” We can get there, and the time to start is now.
Join us for the Global Reuse Summit in March 2025, and let’s make reusable packaging the norm, not the exception. The market is ready, the opportunity is huge, and together, we can create a waste-free future.
To learn more about the summit and get involved, check out all the details here. Let’s do this – for the planet, for the future, and for every single one of us.
Want to be part of the change? We’d love to hear your thoughts on reusable packaging. Share your opinions with us and stay tuned for more updates!