U.S. Plastics Pact Marks Completion of Reuse in Retail Initiative Scoping Phase

Recent Report Unveils Key Findings and Future Scope

WALPOLE, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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.

Statements from partners:

Crystal Bayliss, Interim Executive Director at the U.S. Plastics Pact - “In RRI’s Scoping Phase, we learned that scaling reuse in retail environments requires moving beyond one‑off pilots. Isolated efforts won’t build the type of system consumers need, and the RRI offers a unique opportunity to access a wide range of expertise in one place. Real progress happens only when the full value chain works together—sharing costs, reducing friction, and designing solutions that truly work for consumers, retailers, brands, and supply chain operators. Collaborative, multi‑stakeholder initiatives like this are an incredibly powerful tool to accelerate that shift, helping companies meet emerging packaging EPR reuse mandates. We welcome companies to join this exciting effort.”

Leah Karrer, PhD, Executive Director for Americas at WRAP - “We are delighted with the outcomes of this important phase in our journey to mainstream options for reuseable packaging to millions more people. This is a huge undertaking and offers enormous benefits for both businesses and the environment. The two key takeaways I'm excited by is offering product categories and SKUs in reusable packaging to strengthen consumer adoption, and with return‑on‑the‑go as the preferred model. The next stage is crucial, working towards consumer participation by designing a streamlined reuse system collaboratively. I'd urge other businesses to join those already paving the way to making reusable packaging the norm, and stay abreast of this exciting and rapidly developing new marketplace.”

Crystal Dreisbach, CEO at Upstream - “The question has never been whether reuse works—it's whether we can build the systems to make it work at scale. This initiative answers that challenge head-on, with the kind of cross-retailer, cross-brand collaboration that can actually move the needle. Portland, Maine is a smart starting point, and the path to California and beyond is already taking shape.”

The USPP is currently looking ahead to RRI’s next phase, the Program Design Phase, expected to begin in mid‑2026. This phase will focus on collaboratively designing the reverse logistics system and packaging design, creating the consumer experience plan, and selecting a system operator for subsequent phases. Following the targeted in‑store launch in 2028, RRI intends to expand to additional product categories and regions, including California.

For more information, check out the report here, and attend the USPP’s webinar on March 26th.

To get involved, email Annika Furr, Program Manager – Reuse and Reduction, U.S. Plastics Pact, [e-mail].