Consumer Goods Forum revolutionizes home care sector with new reusable initiative in Ottawa

CANADA – The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Plastic Waste Coalition has launched a pioneering reusable packaging initiative for home and personal care products in Ottawa, marking a significant step toward citywide sustainability. 

In partnership with Reposit, Amcor, Avery Dennison, Walmart, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble, the project introduces a deposit-based system in which consumers purchase products in durable, returnable containers and receive refunds upon returning them for cleaning and reuse.

The initiative integrates “return for reward” mechanisms to encourage consumer buy-in and habit formation, while leveraging advanced digital tracking for efficient logistics. 

It complements existing recycling infrastructure rather than replacing it, focusing initially on high-volume categories like laundry detergents and cleaning supplies to demonstrate viability at scale.

Cédric Dever, director of CGF’s Plastic Waste Coalition, highlighted the collaboration, stating, “This project shows how retailers, manufacturers, and system enablers can align efforts to deliver reuse at the city scale.”

“Through these kinds of partnerships, we can create credible evidence of what works and provide a scalable blueprint for other markets worldwide.”

Central to the effort is Reposit, which handles end-to-end operations, including collection points at stores and industrial washing facilities. 

Supporting players include Amcor for durable container design and supply; Avery Dennison for smart labelling that enables multiple reuse cycles through RFID and scannable tech; and consumer giants Unilever, L’Oréal, and Procter & Gamble, each committing products and expertise. 

Funding comes from Canadian government sources, the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund, and the Canada Plastics Pact, ensuring robust backing.

Consumers will access a seamless loop: purchase at checkout, use at home, and drop off empty containers at any participating location for instant digital refunds via apps or vouchers. 

Behind the scenes, data analytics optimize routes, predict demand, and minimize losses, with containers engineered for at least 100 uses to maximize environmental impact.

The global reusable packaging market is expanding steadily, driven by sustainability regulations, consumer demand for eco-friendly solutions, and cost savings relative to single-use formats.

According to a report by Global Market Insights, the global reusable packaging market was valued at USD 141.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 258 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.2% during 2026–2035.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, The Consumer Goods Forum’s (CGF) Plastic Waste Coalition of Action released a report on how Artificial intelligence is emerging as a critical tool for advancing packaging circularity.

The study, Exploring AI for Packaging Circularity, developed in collaboration with Bain & Company, outlines how AI can help companies redesign packaging, improve waste sorting and strengthen material traceability across complex global supply chains.

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