WALPOLE, N.H., March 24 — The U.S. Plastics Pact (USPP) today released Reuse in Retail Initiative (RRI) Scoping Phase: What We Learned and Where We are Going Next, outlining the program’s future scope—including the product category, reuse model, and region—and key policy levers to accelerate the growth of consumer-facing reuse in retail systems. Launched in 2025, the RRI is a strategic collaboration between the USPP, Upstream, and WRAP aimed at accelerating the shift to reusable packaging in retail within a packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) state.
RRI is structured as a long‑term, iterative implementation model that builds on past pilots, shared costs, and actionable initiatives. Its cross-retailer, cross-brand approach sets it apart, expanding accessibility to consumers and helping drive higher participation and return rates.
RRI’s Scoping Phase included interactive educational sessions and workshop discussions with nine companies and organization to define a recommended path forward, and produced three tangible outputs for participating companies: end‑to‑end system maps, a consumer experience strategy, and a stakeholder analysis matrix.
RRI’s Future Scope of Activities:
Product Category – Prepared food emerged as the recommended product category for an initial launch primarily due to the ease of implementation into retailers’ existing back‑of‑house operations. Offering a wide range of product categories and SKUs in reusable packaging increases consumer exposure to the system, which strengthens familiarity and improves return rates. Other highly ranked product categories for additional launches included fresh produce, home care, and personal care.
Reuse Model – The report identifies return‑on‑the‑go as the preferred reuse model, offering consumers an experience similar to single‑use packaging while reducing operational barriers for retailers, such as spills refilling products in store aisles.
Region – Portland, Maine was selected for the initial launch because its robust deposit return system (DRS) provides a foundational infrastructure and established consumer return habits. The area is also advancing reuse through existing and upcoming local initiatives, including efforts at universities and retailers.
The report also identifies several policy levers that can accelerate the growth of reuse in retail, including EPR fee structures that incentivize pre-competitive collaboration on reuse programs, investment in return infrastructure by Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), integration of reuse into DRS and EPR legislation and other regulations, and public procurement and community pilots to catalyze market adoption.
