Romania\u2019s Deposit-Return System (DRS) has become a reference point for the circular economy, but its achievements cannot be attributed to a single organisation, Anca Marinescu, Corporate Affairs & Communication Manager at RetuRO, said during the Sustainability in Business Forum, organised by Sustainability Today and The Diplomat-Bucharest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking about the lessons learned from implementing and operating the system, Marinescu stressed that sustained dialogue between stakeholders, transparency and the ability to adjust policies to practical realities have been essential to its progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen it comes to the circular economy, we are held up as an example, and it may seem that we have positioned ourselves at the top and are now teaching other lessons following the success of this public policy. But it was by no means solely the company\u2019s achievement, as I always point out. Several things came together at the same time,\u201d Marinescu said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She highlighted the continuous dialogue between the parties involved, which began before the system was implemented, when the underlying legislation was being developed, and continued throughout its operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe this was one of the most important factors behind the functioning of the Deposit-Return System: people sitting down and talking extensively, with ongoing dialogue between all the parties involved,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Marinescu, this cooperation helped stakeholders address challenges throughout the process, from the initial design of the legislative framework to the practical realities of operating the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marinescu also identified transparency as a cornerstone of the system\u2019s development, noting that legal requirements to publish data and reports regularly helped establish a culture of openness within the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTransparency has also helped us enormously. Initially, we were legally required to be highly transparent and to publish various types of data and reports regularly on our website. Over time, these reporting obligations became part of our DNA,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added that transparency is now viewed not merely as a regulatory obligation, but as a valuable tool for building credibility and strengthening relationships with all stakeholders involved in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe really appreciate this approach to transparency and believe it helps us build credibility in our relationships with all the parties in the system,\u201d Marinescu said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her remarks highlighted how consistent access to information and regular reporting can support accountability and trust in complex systems that depend on cooperation between public authorities, businesses and consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another key lesson from the implementation of the Deposit-Return System has been the need for flexibility. Marinescu explained that public policies designed at an institutional level often encounter practical challenges once they are implemented, requiring stakeholders to adapt their initial plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese have been our lessons over the past few years: a great deal of dialogue. Very often, you have to make compromises when you get out into the field and realise that a public policy designed in an office also has to be implemented in practice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She stressed that the realities encountered on the ground can differ significantly from the assumptions made during the policy design stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have to be willing to adapt, to make small compromises, to be flexible and agile,\u201d Marinescu added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said RetuRO aims to become even more agile, improving the speed and effectiveness with which it responds to operational needs and changing circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marinescu also pointed to the difficulties businesses can face when changes in legislation and public policy fail to keep pace with developments on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She observed that although regulations can sometimes change quickly, introducing amendments that businesses consider necessary to improve operations can be a more lengthy process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery often, the way public policies change does not keep pace with the realities on the ground or with the way legislation evolves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom the private sector\u2019s perspective, we all know that legislation often changes quickly when you do not want it to. But when certain changes are genuinely needed and would be helpful, the process becomes more cumbersome,\u201d Marinescu added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite these challenges, she said the Deposit-Return System is moving in a more positive direction, supported by the experience gained in recent years and the lessons learned through cooperation among stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe that, from the perspective of the Deposit-Return System, we are on a better path today,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sustainability in Business Forum brings together business representatives, policymakers and sustainability experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in advancing sustainable business practices and the circular economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n