The global problem due to the waste generated by the plastic industry has made it considered the great villain of the 21st century, as society has made it a one-time disposable convenience. The beverage industry, from the use of PET bottles, contributes directly to the problem. The present work aims to present and analyze the main advantages and disadvantages of the use of returnable plastic bottles, which employ the circular economy in the production system, in relation to the linear economy PET bottles. The main problems and impacts generated by the plastic industry over the years were analyzed, and a theoretical foundation of the concepts involving the study in question was made. Thus, we defined the main pillars to be evaluated to make such a comparison and achieve the study objectives, showing that the returnable plastic bottle is a viable solution to the plastic problems in the beverage industry. In addition, successful cases and market practices were addressed to bring a more representative discussion between practice and theory.