Reuse Systems for Plastic Packaging in the EU: A Typology and Assessment Under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
Authors
Llanes Lopez, Noelia ; Niklaus, Tim
Term
4. Term
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-06-03
Pages
97
Abstract
This thesis examines how plastic packaging reuse systems in the EU can be classified and evaluated under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which sets binding reuse targets. To address a gap in both regulation and scholarship, it develops a PPWR‑grounded typology and a structured assessment framework. Drawing on an inductive analysis of more than 70 documented systems across take‑away food, beverages, and transport and logistics, the study identifies ten operating‑model archetypes. A two‑stage evaluation first determines that four archetypes do not meet the requirements to qualify as PPWR‑compliant reuse systems (Article 29); the remaining six are then assessed against criteria for circularity and accessibility. The results highlight a persistent structural tension between these two dimensions, with the Pooling System emerging as the only archetype that surpasses the benchmark set by the open deposit return system on both counts. The typology and assessment are validated through structured workshops with participants from academia, a sustainability consultancy (NORION Consult), and the European Environment Agency (EEA), and are applied illustratively to the three sectors. The thesis concludes that the framework offers a shared classification vocabulary and a replicable method to support coordinated implementation of the PPWR across the EU.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan genbrugssystemer for plastemballage i EU kan klassificeres og vurderes i lyset af den nye Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), som stiller bindende genbrugsmål. For at udfylde et hul i både regulering og litteratur udvikles en PPWR-forankret typologi og et struktureret evalueringsrammeværk. Med udgangspunkt i en induktiv analyse af mere end 70 dokumenterede systemer inden for take-away, drikkevarer samt transport og logistik identificeres ti driftsbaserede arketyper. En totrinsvurdering afklarer først, at fire arketyper ikke opfylder kravene til PPWR-kompatible genbrugssystemer (artikel 29); de resterende seks vurderes derefter ud fra kriterier for cirkularitet og tilgængelighed. Resultaterne peger på en vedvarende strukturel spænding mellem disse to dimensioner, og kun poolingsystemet overgår referencepunktet sat af det åbne pant-system på begge områder. Typologi og vurderingsramme valideres gennem strukturerede workshops med repræsentanter fra akademia, en bæredygtighedskonsulent (NORION Consult) og Europæisk Miljøagentur (EEA), og anvendes illustrativt på de tre sektorer. Afhandlingen viser, at rammeværket tilbyder et fælles klassifikationssprog og en reproducerbar metode, som kan understøtte en koordineret implementering af PPWR i hele EU.
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Keywords
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