Virtual Coffee: Lessons from Bangkok’s First Full-Scale Reusable Packaging DRS at an Event

Moving away from single-use plastics at events isn’t just an idea—it’s happening. But how do we ensure that reusable packaging systems are practical, efficient, and embraced by the public users? A Deposit Return System (DRS) offers a promising way forward, encouraging event-goers to return their cups and containers instead of tossing them away. Still, making it work at scale comes with real challenges.

At the Bangkok Film Festival, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Thai Film Director Association, with support from the CAP SEA Project, GIZ, piloted a full-scale reusable packaging DRS—one of the first major tests of a return system at a public event in Bangkok. From collection logistics to participant engagement, the pilot provided valuable lessons on what it takes to integrate reuse into large-scale events successfully.

In this Virtual Coffee session, Mr. Korb Limsuwan, Head of Environmental Management Workgroup at Chulalongkorn University and consultant to the CAP SEA Project, who played a key role in designing the system, will share his firsthand experience:

🔄 How the reusable packaging DRS was planned, implemented, and tested
🎭 What worked well—and what unexpected challenges arose along the way
🌏 The potential for scaling reuse systems in future events across the city

☕ Whether you're an event organizer, a policy maker, a sustainability advocate, or simply curious about how reuse systems can transform waste management—grab your coffee and join the conversation! 🌱