net saving a year for one university café that switched diners to reusable dishes
The University of San Francisco’s Market Café cut 2.6 million disposable items a year with no added labour (2017).
Economy
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more per pound for foam polystyrene than cardboard under Oregon’s 2026 packaging fees
Under Oregon’s law, companies that sell packaging pay fees to fund its recycling. Foam polystyrene containers cost 138 cents a pound, against 8 cents…
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business opportunity from moving 20% of plastic packaging to reuse
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s estimate of the market for refill, return and reuse models.
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per tonne in UK Plastic Packaging Tax from April 2026
Charged on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content, for businesses making or importing 10 tonnes or more a year. It rises every…
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cheaper per use for returnable drink bottles once plastic and carbon taxes are counted
When a plastic tax and a higher carbon price are included, returnable drink bottles cost 28% less per use than single-use (modelled; packaging fees…
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lower cost per use for returnable drink and personal-care bottles than single-use, in a large shared system
Ellen MacArthur Foundation modelling (2023) of returnable packaging at national scale: drink bottles 6% cheaper per use, personal-care bottles 10% cheaper.
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Reusable surgical gowns: less waste at about the same cost
A peer-reviewed study at a US hospital system found switching to reusable surgical gowns would cut 30,570 pounds of waste a year while saving…
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A university café saved US$157,883 a year by switching to reusable dishes
The University of San Francisco’s Market Café cut 2.6 million pieces of disposable packaging a year and saved US$157,883 net, with no added labour,…
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Plastic pollution lawsuits could cost companies more than US$20 billion in the US alone
The Minderoo Foundation’s analysis estimates expected liabilities from plastic-related litigation in the United States from 2022 to 2030 at more than US$20 billion, with…
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Plastic carries a hidden US$75 billion yearly cost for consumer-goods companies
A UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Trucost study put the natural-capital cost of plastic used by the consumer-goods sector at US$75 billion a year,…