Improvement of Packaging Circularity through the Application of Reusable Beverage Cup Reuse Models at Outdoor Festivals and Events

Valdonė Šuškevičė,Jolita Kruopienė

doi:10.3390/su13010247

Abstract

Festivals generate huge amounts of waste during a short period of time, usually in three to four days. Single-use packaging is one of the dominant waste streams at the festivals. In order to minimize single-use plastic packaging waste generation and negative impacts on the environment, outdoor festivals apply alternative reusable cup systems and strategies. However, little studies have been made on how different reusable beverage cup reuse models can affect material circularity within certain festivals, and how it contributes to cup damage and loss. This article presents the results of a pilot study of different reusable cup reuse models within seven Lithuanian summer outdoor festivals. Three different models were applied and tested: A—only reusable cups, non-refundable model; B—only reusable cups, with deposit-refund; C—a mixed system of reusable cups with deposit-refund and of single-use cups. Material flow analysis (MFA) was performed, and the Materials Circularity Indicator (MCI), developed by Ellen MacArthur Foundation, was calculated to study the applied models. According to the findings, refund models (B, C models) have lower rates of damaged and lost cups compared to non-refundable reusable cup reuse model (A model). This paper shows that different reuse models provide different damage, loss and return rates of reusable cups. The data presented can aid decision-makers who need to choose a reuse model for a certain event.

Highlights

Global plastics consumption rates have been increasing steadily since the 1950s [1].In 2015, global plastics production had reached 380 million metric tons with around 40%used for packaging [2]
Packaging is recognized as the dominant type of single-use plastic in the market with around 60% of all plastic packaging used for the food and beverage market [3]
Damaged cups were recycled to make pads for coffee cups in partnership with the Precious Plastic Lithuania initiative, and some of the cups with shape deformations and color changes were repurposed to souvenir pots for plants

Summary

Introduction

Global plastics consumption rates have been increasing steadily since the 1950s [1].In 2015, global plastics production had reached 380 million metric tons with around 40%used for packaging [2]. The consumption of plastic packaging is on the rise [2]. Geyer et al calculated that, in 2015, around 6300 MT of plastic waste had been generated, from which only 9% was recycled, 12% incinerated, and 79% was accumulated in landfills or the natural environment [4]. These authors presumed that this linear waste management trend can lead to roughly 12,000 MT of plastic waste entering the natural environment and landfills by the year 2050. Efficiency for single-use andrate reusable cups is EC = EisF assumed = 0.99. The amount of waste generated at therate timefor of single-use collection is: Wreusable (reusable cup) 0.32;. (single-use cup) waste generated timegenerated of collection is: W0

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