‍Liberté. Égalité. Réutilisabilité.

While France celebrates its national day, it's also worth celebrating a quieter French revolution.

Since 2023, Citeo, France's main Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for packaging and paper (Repak is Ireland’s equivalent PRO), has been legally required to dedicate at least 5% of the producer fees it collects to developing and promoting packaging re-use systems.

That's a significant policy move. Rather than focusing solely on managing waste at its end of life, it invests in preventing it by helping reuse systems grow.

At VOICE, we believe this is exactly the kind of thinking Ireland needs. We know we won't build a thriving circular economy by relying on recycling alone. Reuse needs investment, infrastructure and long-term commitment if it's going to become the easy, everyday choice for people and businesses.

And it raises an interesting question for Ireland.

Our most recent plastic bottle and can Deposit Return Scheme run by Re-Turn (its PRO) has generated substantial unredeemed deposits - around €66.7 million in its first full year, with the total now exceeding €100 million (‘25/’26).Those funds are used by Re-turn, a not-for-profit, to better the scheme and invest in recycling infrastructure.

But what if we took a page from France's playbook?

If just 5% of €66.7 million had been ring-fenced for developing reuse systems, that would have meant more than €3.3 million invested in Ireland's circular economy. Based on more than €100 million in unredeemed deposits to date, 5% would amount to €5 million.

Imagine what €5 million could do to help businesses trial reusable packaging, build washing and logistics infrastructure in each local authority, and make reuse a practical reality across Ireland.

Now that would be a revolution worth celebrating.