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The Barometer

A yearly measure of reuse and refill in Europe.

The European Reuse Barometer is the annual, survey-based assessment of Europe's reusable and refillable packaging industry. It started in 2024 and grows with every edition. This page explains what it is, who is behind it, and how to join.

What it is

Measuring reuse, to speed up its adoption.

The European Reuse Barometer started in 2024 from a simple observation: reusable packaging was growing in Europe, but there was no yearly picture of the companies running reuse systems, of what they achieved, or of what held them back. The project exists to close that gap, and through it to speed up the development, scaling and adoption of reuse & refill across Europe.

It is made for everyone involved in the transition:

  • Reuse and refill solutions that want to grow their activity.
  • Producers and retailers that want to switch to reuse or refill and need to know which solutions exist.
  • Investors looking at the sector.
  • Policymakers who write and enforce the rules, and who need to know what the targets correspond to on the ground.

Every year, the companies that run reuse and refill systems in Europe answer the same questionnaire. The Barometer collects and assesses the economic, environmental and social performance they report, and checks the figures against published data. Individual answers stay confidential: figures are published as totals and shares across companies.

The reports are the result. Each edition shows where the industry stands and tracks its growth. 90 companies participated in 2024, 115 in 2025 and 130 in 2026. The reports point to the practices that work and the conditions behind them, such as shared infrastructure, standardised formats and return mechanisms, and they name the obstacles companies face. Since 2026, the results are organised by the packaging categories of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the European regulation that sets reuse targets and refill obligations, so that each target can be read against the solution providers.

Reuse and refill do not advance at the same pace everywhere. Rules, habits and infrastructure differ from one country to the next, and so does the maturity of the industry. Since 2025, national reports read the same survey at country level, with a national partner, to show each country's particularities, strengths and gaps. Belgium was the first; other countries can follow.

The ambition of the partners is to develop this website into a European reuse market observatory, connecting over time market trends, the mapping of the industry, infrastructure, business performance, investment needs and policy insights. Between editions, the website is the Barometer's permanent platform: gathering market insights by theme, the companies' directory, case studies, life cycle assessments and external reports.

Read the method and the definitions →
See the market insights →

Since 2026

Results organised by PPWR category.

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is the European regulation that sets reuse targets and refill obligations. Since 2026 the Barometer presents its results by PPWR category instead of by sector, so that each target can be read against the companies that already meet it. How categories are assigned →

A

Five reuse categories

Transport, Beverage, Take-away, Other: Food and Other: Personal care. The last two carry no binding PPWR target to date and are tracked with the same indicators.

B

Refill as a separate segment

In a refill model, a container is filled at the point of sale. In a reuse system, the operator owns the packaging and puts it back into circulation. Refill is therefore reported separately, and measured at European level for the first time in 2026.

C

Assigned by activity

A category is assigned according to what the company does with the packaging, not according to the packaging format it reports. A company can carry one category, several, or none.

How it is published

European and national reports since 2024.

Participation has grown with each edition: 90 companies in 2024, 115 in 2025 and 130 in 2026.

2026

European report

130 companies. First edition organised by PPWR category, and first European edition to cover refill.

Download PDF →

National report: Belgium

Second Belgian edition, covering reuse and refill.

Download PDF →
2025

European report

115 companies, 18 national partners.

Download PDF →

National report: Belgium

First national reports, with Fost Plus and ConsomAction.

Download PDF →
2024

European report

90 companies. First edition, organised by sector: take-away, retail and e-commerce.

Download PDF →
Who is behind it

Two strategic partners.

Zero Waste Europe and New ERA co-design the project's strategic direction, shaping its goals, methodology, and overall scope. These organisations also contribute financially to the project.

Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) is the European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. They advocate for sustainable systems, for the redesign of our relationship with resources, and for a global shift towards environmental justice — accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet.

LIFE programme of the European Union

Zero Waste Europe gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the European Union. The sole responsibility for the content of this material lies with the author. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the funder mentioned above. The funder cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

The New European Reuse Alliance (New ERA) is the leading European trade association representing companies offering reusable and refillable packaging solutions across the entire packaging value chain — from manufacturers to service providers. It covers multiple market segments including takeaway, e-commerce, retail, and transport packaging, addressing both B2B and B2C contexts. Its mission is to advocate for strong European policies that create the economic conditions necessary to unlock the full potential of reuse and refill systems.

Project lead.

InOff Plastic acts as the operational lead of the European Reuse Barometer, responsible for project management, survey design, data collection, and analysis. It supports the Barometer's development by investing time beyond the funded scope.

InOff Plastic is a consulting firm specialised in reducing single-use packaging. The company supports clients in defining their packaging strategy and in designing and implementing reuse or bulk sales models adapted to their operations.

Network

12 national partners.

National partners relay the survey to the reuse and refill companies of their country. They strengthen the quality and the relevance of the Barometer at country level, and they make national reports possible.

ConsomActionBelgium

ConsomAction

ConsomAction is the Belgian federation of professionals in the bulk goods and packaging reuse sector. It represents and gathers stakeholders committed to reducing waste, from producers to consumers, around a packaging-free, local, ethical and low-impact model. From content to container!

Fost PlusBelgium

Fost Plus

Since 1994, Fost Plus has driven Belgium's shift to sustainable packaging by improving design, boosting sorting and recycling, and fulfilling the Extended Producer Responsibility of its 5,000 members to build cleaner, circular material chains.

Zero Waste Estonia FoundationEstonia

Zero Waste Estonia Foundation

Zero Waste Estonia SA empowers organisations and individuals to thrive in their efforts toward sustainability. With a mission to unite communities, raise awareness, and drive meaningful change, it works toward a waste-free world.

Mehrwegverband DeutschlandGermany

Mehrwegverband Deutschland

The Reusable Packaging Association Germany (RPAG, Mehrwegverband Deutschland e.V.) unites ~100 members working on reusable systems, research, logistics, material solutions, and advocacy to prevent packaging waste and to close packaging material loops. RPAG fosters collaboration across sectors and shares legal and practical expertise.

Resilient PlanetGreece

Resilient Planet

Resilient Planet helps businesses turn sustainability into strategy. Through engaging workshops and practical tools, it empowers teams to act on climate, embrace circularity, and build resilient, future-proof organizations.

Giacimenti UrbaniItaly

Giacimenti Urbani

Giacimenti Urbani is an Italian association promoting circular economy and waste reduction by reusing materials, extending product lifecycles, and fostering community-based sustainable practices.

Circular Economy PortugalPortugal

Circular Economy Portugal

Circular Economy Portugal (CEP) is a non-profit that promotes the circular economy through awareness, training, and consultancy. Its mission is to empower people, organizations and public entities to adopt systemic and collaborative circular practices.

MAPP CentreDenmark

MAPP Centre

MAPP is a leading interdisciplinary research centre at Aarhus University with 30+ years' experience. With 25–40 researchers, it studies food-related behaviour and perceptions and has strong EU, Nordic, and Danish collaborations with academia, industry, and NGOs.

Ekologi brez mejaSlovenia

Ekologi brez meja

Ekologi brez meja is one of the leading Slovenian NGOs dedicated to improving the state of the environment — focusing on efficient resource use and active citizenship. Most of its activities deal with promoting waste prevention and minimization.

Es ReutilizaSpain

Es Reutiliza

Es Reutiliza is the Spanish Alliance for Reuse, which aims to promote public policies, action frameworks, and awareness-raising activities aimed at promoting the development of packaging reuse systems and bulk sales in Spain.

VerpactThe Netherlands

Verpact

Non-profit created in 2023 from the merger of Afvalfonds Verpakkingen, Nedvang and KIDV. Verpact is the Dutch EPR organisation for packaging, coordinating collection, recycling and waste prevention while supporting companies in meeting their obligations.

GoUnpackagedUnited Kingdom

GoUnpackaged

GoUnpackaged is the UK's leading consultancy specialising in reuse and refill, helping clients across the supply chain to reduce their single-use packaging footprint by transitioning to reuse, undertaking research & advising governments on reuse policy.

In their words

Why they take part, and what the press says.

Respondents and partners on the Barometer, and the articles that covered its editions.

Davide Mazzanti — Sykell

"The European Reuse Barometer is more than a report. It is a tool to make the reuse sector visible, credible, and heard."

Ángel Rodríguez Moreno — CHEP

"The European Reuse Barometer is a unique opportunity to showcase the diversity of reuse in Europe."

“The Barometer gave us real intelligence on funding needs and operational gaps. It’s a must-read for anyone willing to reduce the use of single-use packaging.”

Joan Marc Simon, Founder at Zero Waste Europe

“The European Reuse Barometer gives policymakers the evidence they need: visibility on existing solutions, proof of their environmental and economic performance, and insights to design effective legislation. It shows that reuse systems already works and shows the way on how to scale them faster.”

Fernando Rodríguez-Mata, Director General of New ERA

“The European Reuse Barometer shows even more that the transition to reusable packaging is gaining momentum. Besides the long-standing ‘hidden champions’ of reuse in the B2B sector (transport packaging), we observe an increase in B2C solutions and we see them developing, diversifying & expanding, which is encouraging.”

Marcel Keuenhof, Reusable packaging expert at Verpact

“I use the report on a daily basis to present the Belgium Reuse & Refill landscape. Since December 2025, I have presented it to 15 Belgium ministerial offices.”

Sylvie Droulans, Director of ConsomAction, Belgium
In the press

They wrote about the Barometer.