Biobased reusable packages and return system for take-away food and beverage

Purpose and goal:

The project has shown that in order to be able to replace many of today´s single-use plastic packaging for take away food and beverage with bio-based multi-use packaging and return systems, which the entire industry benefits from, and which significantly improves environmental performance compared to today´s system which today both leads to littering and a large negative carbon footprint, comprehensive industry cooperation is required. A collaboration that is also open to new actors who can add both knowledge and performance to the future return system.

Expected results and effects: The project has;

1. Published a first version of the standard for a sustainable return system for reusable packaging, SIS/WA 4:2022, involving a wide range of complementary future industry players.

2. Clarified important requirements on packaging (safety, cleaning, handling, sustainability etc) from large users who participated in the project work to large material and packaging suppliers who also participated in the project work. 3. Prepared for stage 2 by planning the next pilot stage. 4. Involved global actors from the materials and packaging industry.

Approach and implementation:

The project has worked with open thematic workshops, conducted interviews with industry actors, literature studies (research and investigations) and results from national and international pilot projects and operations which today are piloting closed return systems for sustainable food packaging for takeaway food and beverages.

The most important element in the project´s structure is the breadth of actors who participated in the project´s various activities. A prerequisite for being able to work with system analysis, business development and future implementation.