Beyond Single Use: Policy-Ready Research on Reuse Systems (ENRA 2025 poster)

C4 WP4 research provides robust evidence to accelerate Scotland’s transition from single-use to reusable packaging. A national study on returnable packaging identified adoption-ready consumer segments, key behavioural barriers, and the packaging attributes that shape decisions. Complementary experiments on single-use cups demonstrated that a 25–30p charge can halve disposable use. Together, these findings specify charge thresholds, deposit structures, and targeting strategies. The pathway to impact lies in enabling policymakers to design effective reuse regulations, giving industry stakeholders the evidence to calibrate deposit-return schemes, and equipping NGOs and communicators to engage consumers with tailored messages. By informing charge design, deposit levels, infrastructure priorities, and public engagement approaches, the research provides actionable levers for systemic change. The impact extends beyond academic knowledge, directly shaping regulatory options, guiding business investment in reuse models, and positioning Scotland as a leader in circular economy policy development with lessons for the wider UK and internationally.