2023-07-08 08:47:37
Bringing back your bottle of milk or soda in store in order to fill it once more, it was a widely democratized habit until the early 1990s, before it fell into disuse with the development of disposable containers, then recyclable . If the instruction is still generalized in some of our neighbors, as in Germany, France has long since abandoned this practice.
However, at a time when reducing your waste is essential, this good old technique once more appeals to certain regions which have taken the initiative to bring it up to date.
It is thus 1.4 million bottles which were re -used in 2022 according to theNetwork Association Instructions, or regarding 700 tonnes. A good start but a good level below the 2 million tonnes of glass recycled each year…
So, the instructions, chimera or future of our consumption?
The decline of the instructions, the triumph of plastic
The oldest of us have well known the instruction system which consisted in paying a small sum of additional money (generally a few cents) when buying a bottle. Once empty, it was possible to reflect it in store, and the instruction was donated when the glass container was definitively rendered.
Thus, from the 1960s at the dawn of the 1990s, this system made it possible to considerably limit glass waste. But with the general deployment of plastic containers and disposable packaging, this use has gradually disappeared. Indeed, for manufacturers, package their products in plastic was cheaper than using glass.
Nevertheless, the disastrous consequences of the proliferation of plastic gave the order of the day to the day. The war in Ukraine also rebatted the cards because the country has seen seven of its glass manufacturing factories close. Producing glass is therefore currently much more expensive (around + 60 %).
Ecological and economic interests
Beyond the manufacturing cost that pushes manufacturers to review their methods, the instructions have major ecological interests.
The consigned glass has major ecological interests – ISTOCK
If glass is largely recycled today – 95 % on French territory according to Citeo, 85 % according to theAdeme –, this process remains costly and energy-intensive due to the use of fossil fuels. A bottle thrown into a recycling bucket is indeed melted in an oven at 1,500 ° C, before serving in the manufacture of other bottles.
The instruction, on the other hand, makes it possible to reuse the same container many times. It is estimated that it reduces the ecological footprint from 65 to 85 %.
A study conducted in Alsace for a beer brand has also shown that the instruction saved up to 75 % energy and 33 % water compared to recycling.
But this method is also economical for consumers since manufacturers impact the cost of producing containers on prices of products. Being able to reuse bottles and jars would therefore reduce sales prices.
In addition, the household waste removal tax that we all pay accounts for costs related to recycling (around 35 € per tonne), where the instructions costs nothing. The calculation is quickly done…
Nevertheless, even if 88% of French people say they are in favor of the return of the locker, according to a survey by WWF France carried out in 2019, this practice is not necessarily a panacea.
According to the national waste prevention plan 2014-2020, this system would not always be relevant and its effectiveness would depend on several criteria, namely the transport distance between the conditioner and the place of distribution, the mode of transport, The weight of packaging (the glass of the instructions being reinforced, it is generally heavier and therefore generates more fuel expenditure), the recycling rate of single-use packaging and finally the number of uses of re-filled packaging.
88% of French people say they are in favor of the return of the deposit – iStock
Initiatives that multiply
However, many producers, companies and associations are convinced of the merits of this method and have taken the initiative to put the instructions in their distribution system.
This is the case, for example, For reboots in the Lyon region, High setpoint in the north, Consign’up in Occitania, End to end in the Pays de la Loire, the Deposit of Provencebut also of Jeanbouteille.frpresent in more than 1,000 bulk sales outlets throughout the country.
On their sites, there are maps listing sellers of wine, lemonade, laundry detergent, etc., who have adopted the deposit.
Even the big brands are starting to get involved! Thus, Carrefour has set up a deposit in some of its Breton stores.
If these actions are currently located, there is no doubt that they will eventually become widespread: the antigaspillage law of 2020 indeed imposes on producers and distributors making more than 50 million turnover to re -use 10 % of their packaging of 2027. The deposit therefore has a bright future ahead of it!
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