Fostering a circular economy in the European Union: Prior experiences and initiation of the deposit, return, and refund system in Portugal for packaging waste management

The issue of plastic waste has been addressed by the European Union (EU) through a circular economy strategy, aiming for sustainable materials management and promoting reuse and recycling. In this context, deposit and return systems for packaging (DRS) are proposed as an effective solution, as demonstrated in various European countries. In light of this situation, the present research examines the legislative context of DRS in the EU, as well as specific cases in Sweden, Germany, Denmark, and Finland, all with the aim of deriving a set of recommendations that may be applicable to Portugal. Portugal, through its recent legislative reforms, has mandated the nationwide implementation of DRS.