Bulk and reuse increasing in stores, but Belgian consumers are still hesitant

The Reuse Barometer from Fost Plus and ConsomAction provides an initial overview of the bulk and reuse sector in Belgium. It shows that the logistics and infrastructure are mature enough to enable a broader rollout, but that greater consumer commitment is needed.

RE-VRAC Belgium is an initial analysis of the bulk and reuse market in Belgium, within the framework of the European Reuse Barometer. The report lays the foundation for monitoring the economic, social, and operational evolution of bulk sales and reuse year after year. The results are based on a limited sample of innovative players within the sector.

Young players in the sector

80% of the companies surveyed in the reuse sector were founded after 2010. This points to recent growth within the sector, but also to the operational maturity of the players. This can be explained by the strong cultural roots. Reuse is based on a long tradition in Belgium, for example, for drinks like fruit juices and beer.

Although most companies surveyed are small, with one to two full-time employees, turnover from reuse is increasing by an average of 11% per year (2022-2024). This is particularly true for companies active in transport and the B2B/HoReCa sector, where systems are mature and competitive thanks to more predictable consumption models. In contrast, the retail, B2C/HoReCa sector, and e-commerce sectors experience lower profitability, resulting from their dependence on individual consumer habits and smaller margins.

The choice for reusable packaging is not yet a given for consumers

Reusable packaging is gaining ground, as 43% of household packaging and 82% of industrial packaging (by weight) on the Belgian market are already reusable. However, for barometer participants, the cost of reusable packaging remains the biggest obstacle: its unit price is often higher than that of single-use packaging, which weighs heavily on consumer choices.

The companies surveyed cited the following key obstacles:

• Reusable packaging is not yet sufficiently established among consumers (32%): Consumer habits will only change when the right incentives and infrastructure are in place.
• High investment costs (23%) linked to improving the supply chain (23%), as coordination between the collection, cleaning, and redistribution of reusable packaging often remains highly fragmented.