Scaling Reuse: LCA and TEA of Low-Tech vs. Technology-Driven Rental Cup Reuse Systems in East Asian Megacities

Single-use containers for take-away food and drinks contribute to significant global challenges in plastic production, waste management, and pollution. This issue is particularly pronounced in East Asian cities that have experienced significant economic growth, urbanization, and a fast-paced lifestyle, leading to a high demand for convenience and on-the-go consumption. Despite these challenges, research on reusable systems in this region remains scarce, particularly when addressing system-level impacts across diverse urban settings. Several governments have implemented policies to reduce single-use plastics; however, the environmental advantages or cost-effectiveness of reusable containers - especially in megacities - remain inadequately assessed.

This study investigates the environmental impacts (via Life Cycle Assessment) and costs (via Techno-Economic Analysis) of rental cup reuse systems in four East Asian megacities, compared to single-use paper and plastic cups. Unlike traditional product-focused reuse models, this work evaluates system-level reuse strategies, offering a comparative analysis of operational designs and scalability.

We analyzed the impacts of two rental cup service system designs in four cities (Tokyo, Taipei, Busan, and Hong Kong) that serve 40 shops with reusable cups over a three-year period. System settings are based on a synthesis of business and life cycle inventory data from five rental cup service providers operating in these cities. The first system uses a basic design with all essential functions but lower efficiency and minimal technology. The second employs technology-driven features and a larger degree of third-party services to enable scalability. The two systems also differ in their distribution and collection facilities, washing services, and transportation modes, while maintaining identical service intensity and delivery characteristics.

Results reveal significant cost and environmental impact variations between the two system designs. We find that while reuse systems can reach environmental break-even points, economic viability remains elusive. Urban form and system design critically shape outcomes. Unique urban features, such as short transportation distances or a strong focus on technology-enabled services, significantly influence the environmental and economic outcomes of reuse systems. Our results suggest regionally tailored reuse models and innovation in logistics and service integration are essential to achieving scalable, sustainable alternatives to single-use packaging.