Global standards for reusable packaging systems.

Reuse, once the norm, is key to solving the plastic and climate crises. Our mission at PR3 is to empower reuse systems. We developed the only global standards for reuse and now convene a multi-sectoral panel to maintain and revise them. With our partners, we advance Reuse Standards to support the shift toward safe, convenient, and accessible reusable packaging systems.

Learn more

News and Events

The PR3 Container Design and Performance standard sets durability and material requirements to protect the ability of containers to undergo repeated use and washing while maintaining safety and ability to be reused. 

It is recognized by the American National Standards Institute and Standard Council of Canada and represents several years of work by stakeholders across the reusable packaging system. 

Download the standard for free

SPACER

PR3 Co-founder & Director Amy Larkin gave a TED talk at MIT on designing the un-throwaway world. We know this is possible and the PR3 Standards are the blueprint for interoperable reusable packaging infrastructure. This is a system change that will transform environmental impact and create new pathways for growth.

Watch the recording.

SPACER

Last year we launched Rebrand Reuse, an initiative to find the universal symbol for reuse. After nearly 250 submissions from across the globe, an international review, consumer research, and a legal evaluation, the icon of the future is here. 

A universal icon for reuse is here, and with it a greener, cleaner future. 

Learn more.

Reusable Packaging System Standards Contributors

Updated February 2026

Consumer

  • Center for Environmental Health

  • Consumer Reports

  • Safer States

Environmental and Social Justice

  • Break Free From Plastic

  • Californians Against Waste

  • Clean Water Fund

  • DietPlastik Indonesia

  • Eco-Dahab

  • Eunomia Research & Consulting

  • Food Packaging Forum

  • Greenpeace East Asia

  • National Resources Defense Council

  • Oceana

  • Perpetual

  • Plastic Free Future

  • Story of Stuff

  • Surfrider

  • The Descendants Project

  • Upstream

  • Zero Waste Europe

  • Zero Waste Hawai'i Island

  • Zero Waste Malaysia

Government

  • Environment and Climate Change Canada

  • City of Seattle, Seattle Public Utilities

  • San Francisco Environment Department

  • USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • Recycl3r

  • Retrocycle

  • Reusables.com

  • Revino

  • Revolusation Inc.

  • Searious Business

  • ShareWares

  • Target Corporation

  • Tiptoe Sustainability

  • Tomra

  • Trace It, LLC

  • Tricentris La Coop de solidarité

  • TriCiclos

  • Turë

  • Unilever

  • Unpackaged Systems Ltd.

  • U.S Plastics Pact

  • Veritiv

  • Vessel Works

  • Xiclo

Testing and Standards

  • China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation

  • CSA Group

  • ECOS

  • KIDV

  • PackWise

  • RESOLVE

  • Reverse Logistics Association

Workers

  • adansonia.green

  • Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers

  • GAIA

  • Mother Earth Foundation

Business

  • 99Bridges

  • Again Again

  • Ahold Delhaize

  • Anchor Packaging

  • Australian Packaging Covenant Organization

  • Avery Dennison

  • Bettercup

  • Bold Reuse

  • Busch Systems

  • Cercle

  • Cup Zero

  • Dispatch Goods

  • Dotch

  • Earth & Organics

  • ECHO Systems

  • Edge Impact

  • Enviu

  • Heket Packaging

  • Huskee

  • Loop/TerraCycle

  • Milton Innovations

  • Muuse

  • Nestle

  • New ERA

  • Okapi Reusables

  • PAC Global

  • r.World

  • Re:Dish

  • re-universe

The Reuse Opportunity

What is reuse & returnable packaging?

Imagine you buy a coffee or snack in durable packaging and when finished, you place the empty container into a reuse bin on the street, the office, or at home. The container gets picked up, washed, and redistributed. This cycle is repeated dozens or hundreds of times - all enabled by a shared digital language to move packaging through washing and logistics. The system is efficient, convenient, and affordable, and works for most packaged goods. It also reduces plastic packaging production by 90% and saves up to 80% of carbon emissions compared to single-use packaging. This is the kind of reuse system PR3 is working to scale around the world.

Recommendations

The stakeholders in the reuse ecosystem

  • Integrate reuse systems into climate and waste strategies as well as local and national economic development.

  • Promote policy and reuse systems that adhere to standards in order to ensure environmental performance.

  • Collaborate with other stakeholders on the design of reuse systems and infrastructure to unlock investment and scale.

  • Play a lead role in the design and implementation of the reuse economy.

Join the panel

Announcements and Recent Activities

MAY 11, 2026

The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated a ballot on PR3’s Collection Point Design standard (RES-006).

APRIL 10, 2026

PR3’s Marking and labeling standard (RES-003) was opened for public comment. The notice was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 57, No. 15. Public comment closed May 25, 2026.

MARCH 23, 2026

Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on 31 March & 1 April 2026.

FEBRUARY 4, 202

The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated a ballot on PR3’s Marking & Labeling standard (RES-003).

JANUARY 19, 2026

Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on 27 & 28 January 2026.

  • OCTOBER 10, 2025

    PR3’s Container design and performance standard (RES-001) was opened for public comment. The notice was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 56, No. 41. Public comment closed 9 November 2025.

    OCTOBER 2, 2025

    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated a recirculation ballot on PR3’s Container Design standard (RES-001).

    SEPTEMBER 23, 2025

    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on 30 September & 1 October 2025.

    SEPTEMBER 19, 2025

    PR3’s Container design and performance standard (RES-001) was opened for public comment. The notice was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 56, No. 38. Public comment closed October 19, 2025.

    AUGUST 20, 2025

    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on August 26 & 27, 2025.

    JULY 16, 2025

    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on July 29 & 30, 2025.

    JUNE 27, 2025

    PR3’s Container design and performance standard (RES-001) was open for public comment. The notice was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 56, No. 26. Public comment closed August 11, 2025.

    JUNE 25, 2025

    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated a recirculation ballot on PR3’s Container Design standard (RES-001)

    JUNE 11, 2025

    New Workgroup: The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel launched its sixth workgroup, which will focus on revising PR3’s Collection points standard (RES-006). RESOLVE’s Project Initiation Notification will be published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 56, No. 25.

    MAY 19, 2025

    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on June 10, 2025, and June 11, 2025. If you are interested in participating in the Panel, please contact the PR3 team.

    APRIL 17, 2025

    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated a recirculation ballot on PR3’s Container Design standard (RES-001)

    APRIL 4, 2025

    PR3’s Container design and performance standard (RES-001) was opened for public comment. The notice was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 56, No. 14. Public comment closed May 19, 2025.

    MARCH 31, 2025

    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on April 29, 2025, and April 30, 2025. If you are interested in participating in the Panel, please contact the PR3 team.

    MARCH 11, 2025

    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on March 11, 2025, and March 12, 2025. If you are interested in participating in the Panel, please contact the PR3 team.

    JANUARY 2, 2025

    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on January 28, 2025, and January 29, 2025. If you are interested in participating in the Panel, please contact the PR3 team.

    NOVEMBER 7, 2024

    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on November 19, 2024, and November 20, 2024. If you are interested in participating in the Panel, please contact the PR3 team.

    OCTOBER 25, 2024

    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated the public comment period on PR3’s Container design and performance standard (RES-001). The notice was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 55, No. 43. Review and add your comments by December 9th.

    OCTOBER 18, 2024

    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated the public comment period on PR3’s Container washing, inspection and packing for distribution standard (RES-002). The notice was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 55, No. 41. Review and add your comments by December 2nd.

    OCTOBER 12, 2024

    New Workgroup: The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel launched its fifth workgroup, which will focus on revising PR3’s System operation and performance standard (RES-005). RESOLVE’s Project Initiation Notification was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 55, No. 41.

    OCTOBER 10, 2024
    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated a ballot on PR3’s Container Design standard (RES-001).

    OCTOBER 10, 2024
    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated a recirculation ballot on PR3’s Container washing, inspection, and packing for distribution standard (RES-002).

    SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on October 8, 2024, and October 9, 2024. If you are interested in participating in the Panel, please contact the PR3 team.

    AUGUST 13, 2024
    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on August 27, 2024, and August 28, 2024. If you are interested in participating in the Panel, please contact the PR3 team.  

    JUNE 28, 2024
    PR3 and Upstream are excited to announce they are the recipients of the Department of Energy’s Re-X Before Recycling prize. Upstream and PR3, close collaborators, are both leading change agencies in the reuse movement, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient economy. Read more about the prize here.

    JUNE 5, 2024
    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on June 25, 2024, and June 26, 2024. If you are interested in participating in the panel, please contact the PR3 team.  

    MAY 21, 2024
    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on May 28, 2024, and May 29, 2024. If you are interested in participating in the panel, please contact the PR3 team.  

    MAY 10, 2024
    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated the public comment period on PR3’s Container washing, inspection and packing for distribution standard (RES-002). The notice was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 55, No. 19. Review and add your comments here by June 24th.

    APRIL 23-29, 2024
    Read PR3’s recommendations for the Global Plastics Treaty.

    APRIL 19, 2024
    New Workgroup: The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel launched its fourth workgroup, which will focus on revising PR3’s Digital standard(RES-004). RESOLVE’s Project Initiation Notification was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 55, No. 16.

    MARCH 26, 2024
    The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel initiated a ballot on PR3’s Container washing, inspection, and packing for distribution standard (RES-002).

    MARCH 21, 2024
    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on April 2, 2024, and April 3, 2024. If you are interested in participating in the panel, please contact the PR3 team.  

    JANUARY 19, 2024
    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on January 30, 2024, and January 31, 2024. If you are interested in participating in the panel, please contact the PR3 team.  

    NOVEMBER 15, 2023
    INC-3 | Nairobi, Kenya
    On behalf of PR3 The Global Alliance to Advance Reuse, Rémi Parmentier, submitted an intervention to the Global Plastics Treaty.

    “I commend the delegations who have emphasized the need to agree to a definition of the word reuse. Such a definition must be clear and strict, in line with the Waste Management Strategy which – as several delegations have reminded – places prevention and minimization as the preferred option.

    Reuse and recycling are two different things – Recycling has a role for end of life if products are reused dozens of times. But otherwise, it encourages single-use packaging which only contributes to plastic proliferation -- Reuse is the only way forward. Recycling has almost no climate benefits, while reuse drastically reduces emissions.

    Yesterday, the representative of ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, stated the willingness of the organization to participate in intersessional work on definitions, including the definition of reuse.

    I would like to second ISO’s proposal of intersessional work on definitions, and express PR3’s own willingness to participate in INC’s definition of reuse standards and criteria.

    I invite you to go to www.pr3standards.org to learn about PR3’s Reuse Standards to support and empower the move away from single-use packaging.”

    NOVEMBER 13-19, 2023
    Read PR3’s recommendations for the Global Plastics Treaty

    SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
    New Workgroup: The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel launched its third workgroup, which will focus on revising PR3’s Labeling standard (RES-003). RESOLVE’s Project Initiation Notification was published in ANSI’s Standards Action Vol. 54, No. 38.

    AUGUST 7, 2023
    Panel Meeting: The next meeting of the PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel will be on September 6, 2023 and September 7, 2023. If you are interested in participating in the panel, please contact the PR3 team.  

    AUGUST 4, 2023
    New Workgroup: The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel launched its second workgroup, which will focus on revising PR3’s Washing, Sanitization and Foodware Handling standard (RES-002). RESOLVE’s Project Initiation Notification was published in ANSI's Standards Action Vol. 54, No. 31.

    APRIL 26, 2023
    New Workgroup: The PR3 Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel launched its first workgroup, which will focus on revising PR3’s Containers standard (RES-001). RESOLVE’s Project Initiation Notification was published in ANSI's Standards Action Vol. 54, No. 19. 

    APRIL 13, 2023
    ANSI Accreditation: RESOLVE’s accreditation under its proposed operating procedures for documenting consensus on RESOLVE-sponsored American National Standards was approved by the American National Standards Institute.

    MARCH 21-23, 2023
    Kick-off: RESOLVE officially launched its Reusable Packaging System Standards Panel. This panel will carry forward the work of evolving PR3’s reuse standards and pursue accreditation through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization on Standardization (ISO). The panel already includes over 60 organizations, including multinational FMCGs, brands, and retailers, over a dozen reuse enterprises, community groups and environmental justice advocates, city and national government officials, human health and toxics experts, and others. Over the coming years, this diverse group of stakeholders will work to align around key parameters for returnable packaging systems, creating the foundation for systems that are affordable for businesses and consumers, equitable and accessible, safe, and better for the planet than single-use. PR3 continues to accept panel applications. Representatives from all impacted sectors are encouraged to participate.