Europe deserves less
Europe deserves less: less waste, less supply chain disruption and less cost.
With the planned Circular Economy Act (CEA), the EU aims to further drive the transition to a circular economy whilst strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and resilience. The European Commission specifically highlights a single market for secondary raw materials and the strengthening of circular economy models as key priorities.
The Roundtable for Reusable Containers, Trays and Pallets (RCTP) is campaigning for greater consideration to be given to reuse in this context. In its position paper on the Circular Economy Act, the association calls for reuse to be enshrined as a strategic component of the European circular economy.
Reusable transport packaging in European supply chains
Reusable transport packaging (RTP) is used across numerous sectors, such as the food industry, the agricultural sector, the automotive industry, and the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Containers, pallets and trays are designed for repeated use in storage and transport processes.
In the view of the RCTP, such reusable systems can contribute to resilient and efficient supply chains. The association highlights in particular their long service life, reuse, repair and recycling at the end of their useful life.
Waste prevention through reuse
Waste prevention is at the top of the European waste hierarchy. This includes, amongst other things, extending the service life of products and reusing them.
Reusable transport packaging is designed for repeated use. Depending on the product and application, it can be cleaned, reused and, in some cases, repaired. At the end of its service life, suitable plastic containers can be recycled and the material reused as a raw material. At bekuplast, too, multiple use and subsequent material recovery form an integral part of the reusable concept.
The RCTP’s position
The RCTP regards reusable transport packaging as a key component of the circular economy, resilient supply chains and the competitiveness of European businesses. For this reason, the association is calling, amongst other things, for reuse to be explicitly taken into account in the Circular Economy Act and for incentives to prevent waste and promote reuse to be strengthened.
Our contribution
As a member of the RCTP, bekuplast supports the initiative and the approach to give greater consideration to reuse within the framework of the Circular Economy Act. Since 1985, we have been developing and manufacturing reusable plastic transport packaging designed for repeated use in warehousing and logistics processes.
Further information
Further details and all policy recommendations can be found in the RCTP’s full position paper: https://rctp.eu/less/