Amcor is advising beverage producers to reassess their choice of closures as reuse systems and deposit return schemes expand ahead of requirements under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
The PPWR framework includes reuse targets for beverages, requiring 10 per cent of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to be made available in reusable packaging within a reuse system by 1 January 2030, increasing to 40 per cent by 2040.
Deposit return schemes (DRS) are also being introduced or expanded across multiple markets to support container return and recovery. These systems apply a refundable deposit to beverage containers, which is returned to consumers when empty containers are taken to designated return points.
Uli Kobert, product line director at Amcor, said, “PPWR is accelerating the shift towards reuse systems, and that has real implications for packaging choices. Amcor supports customers with closure solutions for reusable PET and glass bottles, alongside technical expertise, to help them prepare for deposit return schemes and the operational realities of reuse, delivering responsible packaging solutions without compromising on performance”.
Amcor said reusable containers face different performance requirements due to repeated washing, temperature changes and filling cycles, which can affect functional areas and sealing performance over time.
The company said return performance in established deposit systems can be high, with Germany cited as an example where eligible single-use drink containers achieve a 98 per cent return rate, supported by return locations and deposit values.
