Implemented in Romania at the end of November 2023, the Guarantee-Return-System (SGR) is a key step towards efficient collecting and recycling of beverage packaging, promoting the idea of circular economy. The number of packaging returned and recycled has steadily increased in recent months, from 31.000 in December 2023, to 2.2 million in January and 21 million in February 2024. At the beginning of August 2024, less than 8 months after the launch, the threshold of 1 billion collected packaging was surpassed, according to data provided by the Romanian Minister of Environment, Water and Forests. The target for this year is to reach 3.2 billion recycled packaging (including PET, glass, and cans).

While promoting the concept of circular economy, SGR is a successful example of sustainability, which proves that Romanians are starting to realize the importance of recycling and are motivated to return beverage packaging. In other European countries, where this system has been implemented, resources and energy have been saved and collection rates have increased up to 90% in a 2-to-3-year period.

SGR is particularly appreciated by local glass recyclers, who report increasing quantities, and a significantly higher quality of glass collected and handed in for recycling by the SGR, compared to that recovered by other recycling systems. Moreover, they announce permanent investments to process as much of the packaging as possible, contributing to the development of the local recycling industry.

In addition to the advantages for the environment and the implementation of a circular economy in Romania, SGR also benefits the national economy, so that PET-processors must no longer import material, as the necessary raw material is supplied by SGR.

The implementation of this system is decisive for protecting the environment, preventing pollution, and promoting a circular economy in Romania, contributing to the country’s sustainable development through responsible management of packaging waste.

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