Challenges in Implementing Deposit Refund Systems: A Stakeholder Analysis of the Beverage Industry

Deposit Refund Systems (DRS) are widely adopted in many European countries as effective mechanisms for increasing recycling rates and promoting circular-economy practices. Greece is currently preparing for the introduction of a national DRS for beverage containers, a transition expected to reshape existing waste-management structures. This study investigates the systemic challenges that may hinder the successful implementation of the upcoming Greek DRS. Focusing exclusively on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminum, and glass beverage containers, this study adopts a multi-stakeholder qualitative approach involving 28 semi-structured interviews with beverage producers, retailers, recyclers, logistics actors, consumer representatives, and regulatory authorities. Thematic analysis reveals four interdependent barriers: restricted consumer accessibility due to uneven distribution of return infrastructure; fragmented governance and unclear institutional responsibilities; weak coordination and operational misalignment among supply-chain actors; and low consumer participation shaped by behavioral and cultural factors. These findings underscore that Greece’s DRS readiness is constrained not by technological limitations but by systemic gaps in governance, infrastructure planning, and stakeholder collaboration. This study contributes to the DRS literature by providing one of the first pre-implementation, multi-actor assessments in a Southern European context and offers policy-relevant insights to support an effective, equitable, and transparent rollout of the national DRS.