Reconomy Connect Partners With Marston’s to Drive Glass Reuse at Scale Across the Hospitality Sector

• Partnership launched to shift focus from recycling to reuse to tackle packaging waste in the hospitality sector and lower carbon emissions and glass collection costs

• Represents the UK’s first scalable glass reuse system and since launch, c.102,000 bottles have been collected from 10 pubs with 22,048 bottles (22%) sent for reuse

• Ambitious plans to scale the project to nearly 600 pubs in 2026, targeting 10.6 million bottles annually with a reuse rate between 22-50%

Reconomy Connect, a brand by the leading international circular economy specialist Reconomy, has partnered with Marston’s, the UK's leading local pub operator, and Again, the supply chain infrastructure platform, to deliver a transformational glass reuse project that is reshaping how the hospitality sector manages glass waste.

Launched in September 2024, the ‘Making Reuse Simple’ project creates returnable reusable bottles from material that is traditionally sent for recycling. Bottles are collected and undergo a specialist cleaning and quality-checking process, with only those deemed fit for purpose being sent on to drink manufacturers. The project is able to capture detailed data from the collections on bottle weights and reuse volumes, helping inform Marston’s future decisions on product packaging and procurement.

As Marston’s waste management partner for almost a decade, supporting the group to become the first of the ‘big five’ pub companies to achieve zero landfill, Reconomy Connect worked with Marston’s to launch the project. Reconomy Connect has been responsible for managing the rollout, data analysis, staff engagement, communication and ongoing compliance.

The project comes as the hospitality sector produces vast amounts of packaging waste and has traditionally relied on recycling as the preferred circular solution. With reusable packaging accounting for less than 2% of the market despite analysis showing that a reusable supply chain has a 60% lower carbon footprint than recycling, the partnership saw an opportunity to scale up reuse.

The initial results from the project have exceeded expectations:

• 102,000 bottles processed through the scheme since launch in September 2024 with 22,048 bottles (22%) reused by drinks manufacturers

• 43% reduction in glass-collection costs, saving thousands of pounds each year

• Potential to have a 60% lower carbon footprint than recycling

• No increase in time required for pub staff to manage bottles and prepare them for collection

Following the initial success of the project, the ambition is to now expand it to nearly 600 Marston’s pubs next year potentially capturing 10.6 million bottles annually. Based on a reuse rate of 22–50%, between 2.3 and 5.3 million bottles will be reused, a figure expected to rise as more drink manufacturers join the scheme. Similar projects are now being replicated by other major UK pub operators.

David Gudgeon, Head of External Affairs at Reconomy Connect, said: “We are delighted by how this project has exceeded expectations and redefined how the hospitality sector manages glass bottles. By moving from recycling to reuse, we’ve taken a clear step up the waste hierarchy keeping materials in circulation for longer and delivering far greater environmental and commercial value.

“There’s now an exciting opportunity to build on this momentum and help businesses advance circularity, lower their carbon footprint and glass collection costs, and also costs under the Extended Producer Responsibility legislation.”

Alex Rollinson, Energy & Waste Co-ordinator at Marston’s, said: "This partnership is about turning ambition into action. By embracing reuse at scale, we’re not only reducing carbon and costs but also proving that practical sustainable solutions can work seamlessly in busy hospitality environments. The early results show what’s possible when we collaborate across the supply chain, and we’re excited to take this innovative scheme into hundreds more of our pubs next year."

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About Reconomy

Reconomy is an international circular economy specialist that combines technology, skills and incredible people to unlock commercial opportunities for businesses by helping them optimise their resources, embed efficiencies, prevent waste and circulate materials back into use.

Reconomy’s capabilities are organised into three divisions known as ‘Loops’ - Recycle, Comply, and Re-use. Recycle loop is focused on waste and resource management. Comply loop helps businesses meet complex regulatory challenges and Re-use loop delivers end-to-end, omnichannel returns management and logistics solutions.

Reconomy operates across more than 150 countries, with over 4,000 colleagues serving more than 23,000 diverse international customers, including some of the world's largest brands.

For more information, visit Reconomy’s website - https://www.reconomy.com/ 

About Marston’s

Marston’s has been at the heart of the British beer and pub industry for nearly 200 years, with a rich heritage dating back to 1834 when John Marston first began brewing at the Horninglow Brewery in Burton upon Trent.

Today, it is proud to be one of the UK’s leading local pub companies, employing around 10,000 people across a diverse community-based estate of more than 1,300 pubs, bars and inns, with a culture that places guests at the heart of everything we do.

Images here - https://we.tl/t-2gS0iPs81k

Contact for Reconomy:

Temple Bar Advisory

Alex Child-Villiers // Sam Livingstone // Alistair de Kare-Silver // Juliette Packard

Tel: 020 7183 1190

Email: reconomy@templebaradvisory.com

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