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Cited by 381Sustainable Supply Chain ManagementWaste Management and RecyclingEnvironmental Impact and Sustainability

Sustainability of reusable packaging–Current situation and trends

Open access
Coelho, Patricia Megale, Corona, Blanca, ten Klooster, Roland, Worrell, Ernst·2020·Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X
DOI 10.1016/j.rcrx.2020.100037
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Abstract

Packaging plays an important role in safely distributing products throughout today's society and supply chains. With a consumption of about 40% of plastics and 50% of paper in Europe, the packaging sector is a large user of materials. Packaging has a lot of environmental impacts, while it also represents a significant cost in the current supply system. Reusable packaging has been suggested as an option to significantly reduce environmental impacts. In this paper, we review the trends in reusable packaging and the literature on reusable packaging to generate insights into the current state-of-the-art knowledge and identify directions for research and development. This can help to better understand the key factors underlying the design and impacts of more sustainable packaging systems.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.rcrx.2020.100037

Cites

46 of 46 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The quality of PP packaging was negatively affected by repeated washing.

    “The quality of PP packaging was also found to be negatively affected by repeated washing (Coelho et al., 2020).”

    From Packaging design for the circular economy: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as Coelho et al., 2020

    Section 6 (page not provided) says repeated washing did not significantly affect the investigated properties of reusable plastic packaging. It notes a change in the hydrophobicity of PP containers but does not describe that change as negative or as a decline in quality. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • The introduction of reusable packaging requires a system change not only for producers and retailers but also consumers, and is only possible when the reorganisation of supply chain and new investments in production lines are achieved.

    “Coelho et al. (2020) stated that the introduction of reusable packaging requires a system change not only for producers and retailers but also consumers.This is only possible when the reorganisation of supply chain and new investments in production lines are achieved.”

    From Packaging design for the circular economy: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as Coelho et al. (2020)

    Section 6 (page not provided) calls reusable packaging a system change for producers, retailers and consumers, and describes supply-chain reorganization and investment in new production steps or lines as potential requirements or barriers. It does not say that both are necessary in every case, as the claim’s “only possible when” wording implies. The Introduction also notes an exception for systems refilled by consumers. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The return rate of used containers can vary significantly based on incentives, convenience, and customer awareness.

    “The return rate of used containers can vary significantly based on incentives, convenience, and customer awareness (14,15).”

    From Environmental life cycle assessment of single-use and reusable food takeaway containers (2025) · cites this paper as [14]

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Cites

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1 of the 47 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Singh, J., Saha, K., Geiger, S., 2017. Economic and social sustainability assessment of reusable plastic containers in the agricultural-food supply chains; In: 28th IAPRI Symposium on Packaging. Lausanne, Switzerland. pp. 303-313.

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Authors
Coelho, P. M., Corona, B., ten Klooster, R., & Worrell, E.
Affiliations
Utrecht University (NL)
Corresponding author
Worrell, Ernst
ORCID
Venue
Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-05
Volume
6
Pages
100037
ISSN
2590-289X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.rcrx.2020.100037
OpenAlex
W3017851349
Cited by
381
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 37 · 2025: 70 · 2024: 91 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 1
FWCI
48.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Resources Conservation & Recycling X (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • University of Twente Research Information (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Universiteit Utrecht
  • University of Twente
  • Wageningen University and Research
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Waste Management and Recycling
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Keywords
reusable packaging, sustainable packaging, packaging materials, plastic packaging, paper packaging, supply chain, packaging design, circular economy

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