The Refill & Reuse Systems Handbook: Step by Step Guide - Plastic Reboot

The Step by Step Guide provides practical guidance for the inclusive and context-driven design of reuse and refill systems. It translates real world experience and knowledge into actionable processes that can be applied by project teams, local governments, and implementing partners.

While this guide has been created for Plastic Reboot’s 15 national projects, it is offered as a resource to anyone working at the intersection of design, implementation, innovation and policy in refill and reuse.

This guide aims to be both globally and locally relevant, with guidance, considerations, and examples from different geographic, cultural and economic contexts. This guide will help the user generate outputs and capture learnings using tools, templates, worksheets, and other practical resources. These help document progress and facilitate sharing and consolidating ideas across the project team, building capacity in reuse and refill solutions through the process.

The Step by Step Guide is made up of five sections and an overview dictionary - learn more about each component below.

Not sure where to begin? For an overall introduction to the Step by Step Guide and how to use it, start here.

Section 1: Getting Started

Section 1 focuses on developing a clear vision for a refill intervention or reuse system. Beginning with problem identification, the section guides the selection of a priority intervention before testing and refining the intervention hypothesis through ecosystem assessment and early engagement with key ecosystem actors.

Throughout this process, the proposed intervention is assessed to ensure it is feasible, appropriate, and beneficial. As real-world conditions, ecosystem assets, interest holder roles, policy context, market dynamics, and behavioral patterns are evaluated, the proposed intervention can be refined, adapted, or pivoted.

By consolidating insights, this section develops an intervention concept that is grounded in local context before entering the System Design phase.

Section 2: System Design

Section 2 takes the intervention concept created in Section 1 and develops it into a detailed design for a refill or reuse system. This section starts with foundational work on the financial model and the governance structure, and then moves into technical system design, providing a structured framework for each decision and connecting the dots for how the system will function in practice.

To close out this section, we revisit the financial model and further develop it based on design decisions and data gathered. By the end of this section, the proposed system has a documented design, including financial model and governance approach, and is ready to move into implementation planning.

Section 3: Implementation

Section 3 moves the proposed refill intervention or reuse system from design to implementation. The section goal is to ensure governance, operations, financing, infrastructure, and engagement are fully aligned before launch so that the system can function effectively in practice.

Throughout this process, the system design is translated into detailed operational plans, procurement strategies, infrastructure deployment, business recruitment and onboarding, marketing, testing, and launch activities.

Together, these efforts support a coordinated launch while establishing the partnerships and processes needed to support long-term operation. At the end of this section, the program is launched!

Section 4: Looking Ahead

Section 4 provides guidance on how to transition the program from start-up mode to being established as a long-term resource for the community.

Topics include how to learn and adapt based on early feedback and results, how to evaluate opportunities for growth and expansion, and how to shift from initial governance or funding structures to ones that support the long-term sustainability of the program.

This section closes with opportunities to share your work and learnings with the broader reuse community, to further accelerate the success of refill interventions and reuse systems.

Dictionary Overview

The Reuse & Refill Dictionary is an all in one resource for refill and reuse system terminology. It can be referenced for definitions from all parts of the Refill & Reuse Systems Handbook.

The Dictionary includes definitions specific to the reuse industry, food & beverage industry, sustainability-related terms, and any other words that may not be commonly understood.