Starting January 1, 2027, all producers and importers of beverages sold in single-use packaging will be required to participate in Moldova’s nationwide Packaging Guarantee-Return System (PGRS). This system will allow consumers to return empty beverage containers and receive a refund of the financial guarantee they paid at the time of purchase.
Authorities designed the new system to align with European Union packaging management directives and to promote environmental sustainability. Grigore Stratulat, State Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, highlighted the importance of this reform during a seminar dedicated to the system’s implementation, according to IPN.
“Adopting European standards is more than a bureaucratic requirement — it’s an investment in public cleanliness and Moldova’s sustainable future,” Stratulat stated. “By aligning with EU norms, we transform waste into a valuable resource and integrate Moldova into a circular economy that has already proven successful across Europe.”
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The PGRS will cover a wide variety of beverages, including water, juices, soft drinks, beer, and other alcoholic drinks, packaged in PET, glass, or aluminum.
Under the new regulations, beverage manufacturers and importers will register with the Packaging Guarantee-Return Association. They will also need to properly label all single-use packaging, report the volumes introduced to the market regularly, transfer the collected guarantees, and adapt their business practices to comply with the new rules.
Former Environment Minister and Green Knowledge consultant Iuliana Cantaragiu called the initiative “a revolutionary stage for Moldova’s recycling industry.” She argued that the system could eventually become a key pillar of the national economy.
“Packaging will no longer pollute forests and rivers — it will go where it belongs: into the recycling process,” Cantaragiu emphasized.
Experts from Romania, which has already implemented a similar system, shared their insights. They noted that one of the main challenges was the population’s low level of environmental awareness, especially in rural areas where collection infrastructure was limited. Despite this, they believe Moldova can successfully replicate Romania’s experience with strong political will.
“In its first year alone, Romania’s system collected 3.5 billion packages,” said Anca Marinescu, communication manager for RetuRO, the Romanian Deposit-Return System. “Today, 9 out of 10 people have used the system at least once.”