In connection with the Expo, we also joined the Learning Expedition organized by Réseau Vrac & Réemploi and New Era, which offered a firsthand look into the French reuse ecosystem. The journey traced the full lifecycle of reusable packaging — from a reverse vending machine and reusable bottle system operated by Petrel at a Super U supermarket in Neuilly-sur-Marne, through Uzaje’s industrial washing center, to the Symbiose Kefir bottling facility, and finally to a Cojean restaurant using reusable packaging in its daily operations.
The experience provided valuable insights into practical systems for deposit returns, industrial washing, refill logistics, and consumer engagement — all critical components for scaling reuse solutions across Europe.
Although France is well known for its progressive legislation on packaging reuse, the visit highlighted that there is still much for other markets to consider and adapt – and develop for other markets too. For example, Finland already operates a national deposit return system (DRS) for recycling of the beverage containers — something still lacking in France. Implementing a reusable bottle system on top of an existing DRS is a relatively small step compared to building the infrastructure from scratch.
One key takeaway was that legislation alone is not enough — effective enforcement and penalties for non-compliance are essential to ensuring that reuse systems work in practice and there France have a gap in their practices too.
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