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DRS Playbook
Everything you need to know about developing, financing and operating a Deposit Return Scheme.
Why this Playbook?
Across Europe, Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) are becoming a cornerstone of circular packaging policy. With the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) mandating 90% separate collection of plastic bottles and metal cans by 2029, governments and industry must act — and act wisely.
DRS may appear simple — pay a deposit, return a container — but behind that simplicity lies complex system design touching law, logistics, finance, consumer behaviour and industrial strategy.
The DRS Playbook provides a comprehensive, practical guide to designing, financing and operating an effective Deposit Return Scheme.
What the Playbook covers
The legislative context of DRS under PPWR and EPR
Nine essential design principles for success
Governance models and industry ownership structures
Financial flows, cost control and industry fees
Producer and retailer preparations
Fraud prevention and IT systems
Priority access to high-quality recycled materials
Reuse integration and the future of Digital DRS
About the author
Commissioned by Unesda Soft Drinks Europe and Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), Raymond Gianotten authored the Playbook , that distils many years of DRS experience into one structured, implementation-focused framework.
What people are saying about the book
“The DRS Playbook is the go-to guide designed to inspire and support stakeholders in implementing effective DRS across Europe that advance circularity of beverage packaging. It draws on years of real-world experience and shared achievements in beverage packaging collection led by the European non-alcoholic beverage industry. Produced collaboratively by UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe and Natural Mineral Waters Europe, under the editorial leadership of DRS expert Raymond Gianotten, the DRS Playbook offers practical guidance on proven approaches and key design principles adapted to local contexts.”
— Nicholas Hodac, Director General of UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe
“Establishing a deposit return system is a complex process that each new country entering the field must adapt to its specific national context. While systems necessarily reflect local realities, the core principles of design and implementation can be distilled into a set of shared observations, key considerations, and practical steps. The DRS Playbook responds precisely to this need: Natural Mineral Waters Europe and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, under the editorship of experienced DRS expert Raymond Gianotten, have developed a solid reference point for civil servants, business operators, and civil society stakeholders seeking to establish an effective deposit return system.”
— Patricia Fosselard, Director General of Natural Mineral Waters Europe
Get the DRS Playbook
This Playbook is not theory. It is a hands-on roadmap for industry coalitions, policymakers, and stakeholders preparing to implement new DRS systems across Europe.
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