CGF Plastic Waste Coalition to Pilot City-Scale Reusable Packaging System in Ottawa with Reposit

Expected to launch in Ottawa in Q3 2026, the project will test how reuse systems can operate at city scale in a way that is practical for consumers, viable for businesses, and capable of generating credible learnings to inform replication in other cities and markets.

Participating retailers and brands include Loblaws, L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble, Shoppers Drug Mart, Real Canadian Superstore, Unilever, Walmart Canada and Your Independent Grocer. The project is supported by partner solution providers, including Amcor and Avery Dennison, alongside Canadian circular economy partners Circulr and IBM.

For consumers, the project hopes to function in a familiar and simple way. Shoppers will be able to purchase selected everyday products, including personal care and home care items, in durable, reusable packaging at participating stores, supported by a small refundable deposit. Once the product is used, the empty packaging can be returned at designated in-store return points, after which it will be collected, professionally cleaned, and placed back into circulation for reuse.

Reposit is the delivery partner for the project, responsible for system design, build and day-to-day operations, working alongside participating retailers, brands and solution providers to deliver a system intended to benefit all stakeholders, including consumers, participating businesses and the wider reuse ecosystem, while ensuring a consistent and reliable experience across stores.

The project plans to incorporate shared return points, reverse logistics, professional washing infrastructure, and integrated data systems, as well as clear, standardised return messaging in both English and French. Together, these elements are intended to reduce friction for consumers while enabling participating companies to test a shared approach to reuse within existing retail environments.

Reuse is intended to complement other circular solutions, including recycling, by reducing reliance on single-use packaging for selected everyday products, while continuing to support existing recycling systems for packaging that cannot be reused.

Cédric Dever, Director of The Consumer Goods Forum’s Plastic Waste Coalition of Action, said: “Changing our collective relationship with plastic requires collaboration and creative new approaches – and Ottawa is an exciting breakthrough in collective action. This project shows how retailers, manufacturers, and system enablers can align efforts to deliver reuse at city scale. Through these kinds of partnerships, we can create credible evidence of what works and provide a scalable blueprint for other markets worldwide.”

Globally, plastic packaging represents a significant share of total plastic use, highlighting the need for a range of complementary solutions — including improved recycling, better packaging design, and new delivery models such as reuse — that together reduce environmental impact while continuing to meet consumer needs.

Stuart Chidley, Founder and CEO of Reposit, said: “Transitioning from single-use to reuse requires more than good intentions — it demands collective action and systemic change across the entire value chain. The Reuse City Canada Project represents a large-scale collaboration between global manufacturers, retailers and solution providers, working together to design the infrastructure and incentives that make reuse accessible for everyone. This is an important step toward building a circular system that works at scale — one where packaging keeps its value, resources stay in use, and waste becomes a thing of the past.”

The Reuse City Canada Project is being funded in part by the Government of Canada and Handelens Miljofond, the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund and delivered with the support of the Canada Plastics Pact.

The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, said: “Focusing on durable, reusable packaging can drastically cut plastic waste, pollution and material use. Today’s announcement is a great example of governments, businesses, non-profit organizations and communities working together to create new economic opportunities and sustainable choices for Canadians that keep the value of our resources in the economy and out of landfills and the environment.”

Consumer-facing communications will be rolled out closer to launch. In parallel, The CGF and participating members will share non-confidential learnings with industry and policy stakeholders.

Any organisations interested in developing a reuse city in their own market are invited to contact Cedric Dever at [email protected].