Romania’s Deposit-Return System (DRS) has become a benchmark for public-private cooperation and functional circular economy practices, driven by trust between authorities, retailers, and producers, according to Robert Uzuna, Chairman BRCC and VP Corporate Affairs at Ursus Breweries.

“For about two and a half years we’ve been talking about the implementation of the DRS system in Romania as a success story. It is a success both because of the partnership we built with retailers and because of the state’s participation as a co-shareholder in the company called RetuRO. It came at a time when trust between market players and regulators was rather limited,” Robert Uzuna said at the Future Retail & FMCG Forum organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest.

“We are now at the point where we can say we achieved a major victory: building trust and bringing retailers, beverage producers, and the state to the same table to develop a system that is now being cited as an example of successful implementation.”

Key statements:

• In March, Romania will host a summit initiated by public authorities, where representatives from other EU member states will come to see how the system was implemented and how it performs.
• Despite the positive results, Uzuna warned that industries continue to face pressure from multiple disruptive factors and additional regulatory demands stemming from the European Green Deal and upcoming measures prepared in Brussels.
• Future requirements include textile recycling targets, new rules for cosmetic and detergent waste, and the possible extension of the deposit-return system to additional product categories and packaging types — objectives that may prove challenging for businesses.
• “Although we all want to protect the planet and do what is right, we must remember we operate in a very complex ecosystem. Things cannot be viewed through the lens of a single priority. Sometimes we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture,” he said.
• Robert Uzuna also noted a lack of encouraging signals from the political environment in recent months, particularly regarding clear strategies for building a sustainable economic recovery.
• On the energy front, Ursus Breweries has become a pioneer locally by implementing Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPA). To secure its green energy consumption targets, the company signed a 12-year long-term agreement with Austria-based Enery to purchase renewable electricity from a solar park.
• He added that cooperation with public authorities remains essential. For example, the planned plastic tax could be turned into an opportunity if ministries create funding schemes — similar to the DRS model — to support recycling infrastructure investments.
• Collaboration between business and government will be key to ensuring that sustainability measures remain both environmentally effective and economically viable.