Romania is no longer lagging behind Europe in sustainability models, and the Deposit Return System (SGR) is now performing at a level that places it among Europe's rapidly maturing systems, declared Gemma Webb, CEO of RetuRo, the company managing the Return Guarantee System, at a specialist event on Thursday.
"Romania is no longer lagging behind Europe in terms of sustainability models. We are now contributing to shaping policies and shaping Europe with the results and steps that Romania has taken in recent years. Traceability, transparency, responsibility and vision are the essential pillars of the SGR and the values that guide our way of operating. Without anticipating the technical presentation that will follow, I would like to highlight a few conclusions. First of all, the Romanian Deposit Return System is performing at a level that places it among the rapidly maturing systems in Europe. And this is just the beginning. Currently, over the last 12 months combined, we are collecting approximately 82% - 83% of every bottle and can placed on the market, and 95% of these are recycled back into the system. It is fantastic. We are at the level of mature systems. We are still young system, but we are now operating at the level of a mature system, with the same efficiency and effectiveness. The SGR goes beyond its logistical function, becoming a mechanism for systemic transformation that aligns Romania with European circular economy initiatives. The SGR is a vibrant economic engine and a catalyst for sustainable growth," said Webb.
She added that the SGR represents the largest circular economy initiative in Romania, not only in terms of scale and complexity, but also in terms of economic and social impact.
The Deposit Return System is Romania's largest circular economy initiative, recognized for its scale and significant economic, environmental, and social impact. In just two years, the SGR has become a benchmark nationally and internationally, with visible results - clean streets, cleaner rural areas, and measurable economic and cultural benefits. Managed by RetuRo, it represents the most ambitious sustainability project in Romania's history, aiming to protect the environment, treat packaging as a valuable resource, and build a culture of responsibility. Given the system's scale and the strong opinions it has generated, we felt it essential to invite independent researchers to evaluate it with fresh eyes and rigorous methodology, said Gemma Webb.
In the view of the RetuRo representative, such a system can demonstrate to investors that investing in Romania brings tangible results.
It has generated an impact on the Romanian economy worth 1.5 billion RON, producing tangible effects across the entire value chain - producers, retailers, recyclers, and local authorities. Romania's investments also create a significant multiplier effect in related sectors such as logistics, infrastructure, recycling, and technology. Romania can now demonstrate that it has passed a law, implemented it at the highest level, and achieved one of the strongest performances in Europe, proving to investors that choosing Romania delivers results, Gemma Webb went on to say.
For local authorities, the benefits are clear: hundreds of millions of RON saved in public waste management costs and tens of millions in tax revenues, freeing up budgets for community priorities and advancing national circularity objectives.
The SGR also has pronounced social effects. We all began with bags and bottles in our kitchens - every household in the country faced this challenge - and by working together, we made a huge difference. Finally, the SGR plays an essential role in the economic inclusion of vulnerable groups, offering them legal, stable, and dignified economic opportunities, emphasized the RetuRo CEO.
RetuRo and Green Report organized on Thursday the launch event of the study on the socio-economic impact of the company, carried out by the Bucharest University of Economic Studies - Faculty of Business Administration with foreign language currivulum (FABIZ).
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