Europe deserves less
Europe deserves less: less waste, less supply chain disruption and less cost.
With the planned Circular Economy Act (CEA), Europe is poised to take an important step toward sustainably strengthening the circular economy, competitiveness, and resilience. However, one key lever in this effort is often underestimated: reuse.
Reusable Transport Packaging as Critical Infrastructure
Reusable transport packaging (RTP) has been an integral part of the European economy for decades. It forms the industrial backbone of Europe and, as critical infrastructure, ensures the daily transport of goods along complex supply chains. Whether in the food industry, healthcare, the automotive sector, or other industries—reusable containers, pallets, and trays have established themselves as a proven system. They ensure stable processes, reduce the risk of disruptions, and make a decisive contribution to supply chain resilience.
The circular economy begins with prevention
True circularity begins with waste prevention. Reuse is at the top of the European waste hierarchy. Reusable transport packaging is designed to be waste-free from the ground up:
- It is reused over many years
- It is repairable and designed for multiple uses
- At the end of its service life, it can be recycled
In this way, it consistently implements the principles of the circular economy—even before waste is generated at all.
Tangible Added Value for the Economy and the Environment
Reusable transport packaging is already making a measurable contribution to Europe’s goals:
- Reducing raw material consumption
- Strengthening the resilience of European supply chains
- Lowering life-cycle costs for businesses
- Reusable, repairable, and recyclable—and thus at the very top of the waste hierarchy
Thanks to these characteristics, RTPs make an important contribution to the competitiveness of European companies as well as to the EU’s strategic autonomy by reducing dependence on external resources.
Our contribution
As a member of the RCTP and with over 40 years of experience in the field of reusable transport solutions, we support this initiative. Our products have been part of European supply chains for decades and help ensure that the flow of goods is efficient, robust, and resource-efficient every day.
Further Information
For more details and all policy recommendations, please see the full RCTP position paper: https://rctp.eu/less/