The Rise of Reusable Packaging: Understanding the Impact & Mapping a Path to Scale
Glossary
Glossary
A list of the key (industry-specific) terms and their meaning frequently used in the report.
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![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/small-limeloop-shipper3_darker.jpeg)
Executive Summary
Packaging, in all its different forms, is ubiquitous across the fashion industry. This is no more evident than the single-use plastic and cardboard packaging that enables the burgeoning e-commerce market.
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Copy-of-RePack_Returning.png)
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Copy-of-RePack_Returning.png)
The Growing Plastic Problem
Images of plastic contaminating the marine environment, causing harm to wildlife and the ecosphere are embedded in the public consciousness. There is a growing consumer focus on reducing plastics, most notably single-use plastic packaging. The sense of urgency to tackle this issue is increasing from all sectors of society. This is no different in the fashion industry – single-use packaging is ubiquitous.
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![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1cc4b74b-3c6a-4c8f-9ad4-be68928074e6-reusable_shipping_tote_with_aggregated_returns-1.jpg)
Single-use vs Reusable System
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Copy-of-Aalto-SS-18-RePack.jpg)
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Copy-of-Aalto-SS-18-RePack.jpg)
Methodology
For the purposes of this study, the ‘Fast-Track’ Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, developed by the Technical University of Delft, was used to compare the environmental impact of single-use versus reusable packaging systems.
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Screenshot-2021-04-20-at-15.41.25.png)
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Screenshot-2021-04-20-at-15.41.25.png)
Findings
Findings
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Considerations for Implementation
Considerations for Implementation
The purpose of this section is to take the findings from the impact assessment and present the key considerations for implementing a reusable system to ensure its future potential success.
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Screenshot-2021-04-20-at-15.56.16.png)
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Screenshot-2021-04-20-at-15.56.16.png)
Conclusion
Conclusion
The exponential growth of e-commerce, coupled with optimised global supply chains has meant that we are consuming more packaging than ever.56 Whilst the current system of single-use plastic provides a low-cost and highly functional solution, it often comes at the expense of the environment. Increased consumption of packaging is fuelling the continued extraction of fossil-derived raw materials, whilst low recycling rates for flexible plastic packaging are leading to the generation of huge amounts of plastic waste.
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Returnity.png)
![](https://reports.fashionforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Returnity.png)