Reusable Packaging Examples

Reusable packaging is gaining traction across industries. Not to be confused with recyclable packaging, also popular with green-minded consumers, reusable packaging refers to any kind of packaging or container that can be refilled or reused. This includes bottles, shippers and boxes, plus other packaging solutions that can be sent back to the manufacturer and cycled through another use.

According to one recent report, the global reusable packaging market is projected to grow to $190B by 2030, up from $136B in 2024, making it a solution savvy brands should consider. Let’s look at some real-world examples of reusable packaging for key products and industries.

Food & Beverage Industry

The food and beverage industry produces an immense amount of packaging each year — literally billions of units, amounting to hundreds of millions of tons of waste. Luckily, this is one of the first sectors to embrace reusable packaging, reducing waste while also catering to consumer preferences.

Reusable food packaging can be made from glass, high-quality plastics or even cardboard, depending on the product and design. Things like returnable bottles, reusable glass jars and take-out containers are becoming more common. Reusable transportation containers, such as pallets, kegs and trays have the added advantage of providing better protection than a standard cardboard box.

PepsiCo

 
PepsiCo is leading the way in creating a circular model for packaging. By establishing returnable bottle systems in places like Spain and Mexico, the beverage brand is reducing the need for new bottles. Glass bottles can be sanitized and reused up to 20 times and plastic bottles about 12 times, saving a ton of waste.

PepsiCo is also looking to expand sales of DIY beverage options, such as Gatorade powders and tablets as well as the SodaStream homemade sparkling water system, which lets consumers make beverages at home using (and reusing) their own bottles. Impressively, PepsiCo has set a goal to deliver 20% of beverage servings via reusable methods by 2030.

Häagen-Dazs

 
Häagen-Dazs is best known for its rich, creamy ice cream. Made using the finest ingredients, it’s sold in single-use cardboard pint containers. In 2019, Häagen-Dazs and its parent company, Nestle, partnered with Loop, a reusable packaging initiative launched by the global recycling organization, TerraCycle, to come up with a more sustainable solution.

Loop designs reusable packaging for popular products, so consumers can have them delivered to their doorstep and return the packaging to be cleaned, re-filled and reused. For Häagen-Dazs, they designed a double-walled steel ice cream container that provides a premium customer experience and keeps the sweet treats nice and cold while en route. The canister is even designed so the ice cream at the top melts faster than the bottom, for an eating experience that is *chef’s kiss*.

Straus Family Creamery

 
Straus Family Creamery has been making minimally processed, organic dairy products for 30 years. The company is deeply dedicated to sustainability, sourcing milk only from local, family-owned farms that use sustainable practices, with a commitment to carbon neutrality.

In addition to healthy and delicious products, Straus Family Creamery is known for its iconic reusable glass bottles — a throwback to the days of the milk man delivering to your doorstep. Along with a variety of organic milks (whole, skim, chocolate, etc.) plus half & half and cream, they now offer two flavors of kefir, a fermented dairy drink, in the same reusable bottles. We’ll drink to that!

Pathwater

 
Did you know that in the U.S., we go through around 50 billion single-use plastic water bottles each year? And less than one-third of these are recycled, which means we’re generating a staggering amount of waste that will take hundreds of years to decompose.

Pathwater is on a mission to change that. Their aluminum water bottle is refillable and durable, designed to be reused over and over again. Each time you refill it, you’re preventing a plastic bottle from ending up in a landfill. Plus, aluminum is infinitely recyclable, so when you’re finally done with your bottle, you can drop it in the recycling bin knowing it will be repurposed into another aluminum product.

Beauty & Personal Care Industry

Consumers care a lot about what products they’re putting on their skin and hair, making beauty and personal care a massive global industry. Estimated to be worth over $500B annually, it’s growing fast.

As personal care is, well, personal, it stands to reason that consumers in this market also care about the packaging those products come in. To reduce waste, innovative brands are leaning into reusable beauty packaging designs, too.

Dove

 
Dove sells many of its signature products in single-use plastic bottles, including lotions and body washes. The company now offers refillable aluminum bottles designed to be used in the shower, with small, concentrated refills available for various body wash products.

The plastic refill bottles screw directly onto the top of the reusable bottle, for easy filling. Once the contents have been transferred to the refillable bottle, you just add water to create a moisturizing body wash. Both the plastic refill bottle and the aluminum reusable bottle are fully recyclable, further reducing waste.

Chanel

 
Coco Chanel famously said, “Fashion fades, only style remains.” And with this iconic beauty brand’s reusable cosmetic packaging, consumers can keep their signature style going without having to buy a brand-new product every time one runs out.

After purchasing an original Chanel lipstick from one of their premium ranges, you can buy a refill of your favorite shade, reducing waste while also saving money. To use the refill, simply insert it into the base of the original container, click it into place and voilà, your signature color is ready to wear.

Wild

 
This UK-based brand prides itself on using almost entirely (over 90%) natural ingredients and “removing single-use plastics from your bathroom.” By packaging all of its personal care products in refillable containers, the company is reducing waste and winning the hearts of eco-minded shoppers in the U.K. — and now in the U.S., too.

Currently, Wild offers body wash, hand wash, deodorant and lip balm in refillable containers, with a selection of fun designs to choose from. Products can be purchased as a pack, which comes with the reusable case plus a refill, or refills and cases can be bought separately.

The Body Shop

 
A natural beauty pioneer, The Body Shop was founded on the belief that business should be a force for good. In 2019, the company launched its “refill revolution,” with refill stations installed at hundreds of stores around the world. Now adding additional refill stations throughout the U.S., the initiative hopes to save over 25 tons of plastic per year by getting people to make the switch.

Shoppers can purchase a reusable aluminum bottle stamped with the signature, “Refill, Reuse, Repeat” tagline at participating stores and ask any team member to fill it. Happy shoppers can select a variety of haircare products, shower gels and handwashes from the brand’s most popular ranges.

Household & Cleaning Industry

Keeping your home clean can feel like a never-ending chore, and one that requires a whole lot of help. Unfortunately, many cleaning products come in single-use plastic bottles, creating a whole heap of waste. But household cleaning brands are also starting to offer reusable packaging solutions, helping to clean up the planet along with our homes.

Clean Cult

 
Clean Cult is on a mission to “replace landfilling with refilling.” The company sells a variety of cleaning products, including laundry detergent, liquid dish soap, liquid hand soap and cleaning sprays, in refillable aluminum containers that are not only sustainable, but look good on your shelf or counter.

Refills come in recyclable paper boxes, which are vastly better for the environment than plastic bottles or even plastic refill pouches. Plus, their products boast natural ingredients and smell great. Clean Cult is available at grocery stores and leading retailers including Target, Walmart and CVS.

Earth Breeze

 
Earth Breeze is reimagining the laundry room shelf. Not only are they replacing single-use plastic bottles with refillable containers, they’re replacing the harsh chemicals often found in detergents with safer ingredients that come in a lightweight laundry detergent sheet. Simply toss a sheet in the wash and watch it dissolve in seconds. Now that’s what we call a breath of fresh air.

Grove Collaborative

 
Grove’s refillable spray bottles are made from 90% post-consumer recycled paper and can be used with a whole range of cleaning product concentrates covering all of your bathroom, kitchen and general cleaning needs. Plus, they come with an easy-to-use labeling system to help you stay organized.

Grove also sells reusable cleaning products like cleaning gloves, drying mats and “paper” towels made with organic cotton, all of which come in packaging that’s completely free from single-use plastics.

Retail & Apparel

The fast-fashion industry creates a huge amount of waste each year, with literally tons of used clothing ending up in landfills or, worse, being incinerated. Fortunately, some apparel retailers are looking to curb their impact by adopting reusable packaging.

Patagonia

 
Patagonia is well-known for their earth-first values. Not only are their products designed for use in the great outdoors, the company boasts a whole range of positive initiatives, from setting impressive climate goals to donating 1% of its annual sales to preserving and restoring the environment.

In 2024, Patagonia joined a sustainable packaging initiative, Pack4Good, launched by an environmental nonprofit and aimed at protecting forests. The company’s packaging is low-impact, using recyclable materials and eliminating unnecessary materials, including polybags, which are difficult to recycle, wherever possible. Another unique way the company reduces its carbon footprint is by buying back and re-selling “pre-loved” clothing and gear on its website, encouraging customers to buy less and reuse more.

ASOS

 
As part of its “Fashion with Integrity” strategy, retail apparel giant ASOS joined the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment aimed at eliminating single-use packaging materials, and pledged to ensure that all of its packaging is 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable.

ASOS developed reusable shipping bags as an alternative to the single-use shipping bags widely used by online retailers. The new bags contain 65% recycled material and are 100% recyclable as well as being reusable.

H&M

 
H&M is also looking to reduce its environmental impact with eco-friendly packaging. In 2020, the Swedish brand launched a new multi-brand paper packaging system that’s both reusable and recyclable while also being strong enough to protect apparel during shipment.

By shipping online orders in this new solution, H&M and its subsidiary brands aim to significantly reduce plastic waste without impacting the quality of their products.

eCommerce & Logistics

The rise of online shopping led to an explosion in packaging production and, sadly, the waste that comes with it. So, it’s good to see leading brands moving to curb waste by adopting reusable ecommerce packaging solutions.

Amazon

 
As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon sends out a lot of packages — all day, every day. In 2022, the company launched the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, aimed at supporting eco-friendly startups around the world, with some working to counter the environmental impact of online shopping by developing reusable packaging solutions for use in Europe.

• Hipli ships orders from one of Amazon’s French fulfillment centers using fiber-based packaging solutions that can be reused multiple times.
• Re-Zip provides Amazon with reusable cardboard boxes for use across five European countries, which are returned to Amazon to be cleaned and reused.
• Amazon is also testing out cross-border collections for reusable packaging with partnerships across France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria.

Zalando

 
Zalando is a German-based online retailer that specializes in shoes. Modeled after Zappos in the US, the company ships discounted footwear all over Europe.

As part of the Fashion for Good initiative, Zalando developed a reusable shipping bag called a RePack, which can be used multiple times for both shipping and returns. Customers who don’t want to return their product simply fold up the bag and return it to Zalando in a prepaid envelope, so it cycles back into use instead of ending up in a landfill.

Returnity

 
Returnity sells reusable packing systems for retailers, manufacturers and third-party logistics providers, including “the last box” — a durable, collapsible shipping container that can be reused at least 50 times.

Returnity’s reusable packaging solutions are designed to fit into today’s supply chain networks, helping businesses control costs and reduce waste without having to re-think logistics. Already partnering with top retailers like Walmart, Target and J Crew, Returnity has the potential to make a measurable impact in reducing eCommerce packaging waste.

Automotive & Manufacturing

Cars don’t come in boxes, but automotive parts and supplies are shipped all over the country (and the world), creating a whole lot of material waste. Here are some of the automotive industry brands looking to do their part for the earth by reusing packaging.

Nissan

 
Japanese auto manufacturer Nissan was an early leader in this area, partnering with ORBIS Corporation back in 2012 to standardize their reusable packaging systems. The partnership was recognized by the Reusable Packaging Association at the 2012 Automotive Supply Chain Awards.

Valuing sustainability, Nissan has successfully implemented reusable packaging solutions across its supply chain, shipping parts from suppliers in the U.S. and Mexico to assembly plants via reusable totes, bulk containers, protective dunnage and pallet systems.

Subaru

 
Subaru, another Japanese automaker that manufactures vehicles in the U.S., was also recognized by the Reusable Packaging Association for its efforts. Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) won the 2015 Excellence in reusable Packaging Award with an impressive 89% usage rate for supplier direct delivered parts — and set a goal to raise that to 95%.

By replacing cardboard packaging with reusable containers, including handheld totes, SIA was able to eliminate 28,000 tons of cardboard and reduce annual use by 153 tons. Plus, they saved close to $16M in new packaging costs. Sounds like a smart investment.

ULINE

 
Uline also caters to manufacturers looking for reusable solutions. The company’s reusable bulk containers combine a heavy-duty (1,500 lb.) corrugated sleeve with a drop-down panel for easy loading, with a plastic pallet and lid for added protection plus stackability.

Or, choose the all-plastic option for added durability and strength. Both containers collapse for easy shipping and can be purchased in bulk.

Partner with Ernest for Reusable Packaging Design

No matter what you’re shipping, there are lots of ways you can reduce your environmental impact, and packaging is a great place to start. Our team of design experts is well-versed in sustainable packaging solutions and brimming with ideas.

We’d love to discuss your packaging needs and help you land on a reusable solution that will not only help you reduce waste and save the planet, but will resonate with today’s eco-minded consumers too, giving your brand a green boost. Let’s talk.