Can re-use really replace 'largely ineffective' plastic recycling?

clock • 7 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

New report argues reuse, not recycling, is the most effective solution towards the global plastic crisis, but warns the huge potential of re-use models is being systematically ignored

The global plastics crisis is only getting worse. While the material may have revolutionised consumer goods packaging by providing lightweight, durable, and cost-effective materials for countless products,...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Author spotlight

Amber Rolt

View profile
More from Amber Rolt

PepsiCo and Soil Capital team up for rapeseed regenerative farming push

Government urged to remove financial and technical barriers to heat pump adoption

More on Recycling

Barbara Neto: 'When consumer demand meets bold innovation, real systems change is possible'
Recycling

Barbara Neto: 'When consumer demand meets bold innovation, real systems change is possible'

Curiouz founder and CEO discusses her efforts to make eco-conscious sourcing not only possible, but accessible and inviting

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 14 October 2025 • 7 min read
Squaring the circle: Rethinking procurement to promote the circular economy
Recycling

Squaring the circle: Rethinking procurement to promote the circular economy

For the UK infrastructure sector, where projects are capital-intensive and long-lasting, the specification process could be the key to effectively integrating circular economy principles, write AECOM's Robert Spencer

Robert Spencer, AECOM
clock 06 October 2025 • 6 min read
Biffa acquires plastic bottle firm Esterform ahead of Deposit Return Scheme launch
Recycling

Biffa acquires plastic bottle firm Esterform ahead of Deposit Return Scheme launch

Waste management giant unveils plans to merge recycling operations with bottle manufacturing capacity to create a circular plastics packaging business

Amber Rolt
clock 03 October 2025 • 2 min read