Reusable Takeaway Packaging for Food and Drinks – Scalability of Systems Towards Circularity in Europe

In Europe, an increasing number of initiatives are introducing reusable food and beverage containers across a wide range of food-service settings, including restaurants, kiosks, coffee bars, and cafés. This study set out to explore how far these systems have come, and to identify the main obstacles and possibilities for expanding them. To do so, the ETC-CE researchers located and interviewed businesses and projects in eight European countries whose core activities centre on different parts of the reusable packaging value chain. The findings reveal substantial diversity between systems in terms of what they offer the market, how their return schemes are organised, and which packaging formats they use. To make reusable takeaway packaging a more robust option across Europe, stronger cooperation is needed between actors at different points in the value chain. In addition, the design and management of these systems must be improved so they are convenient and affordable for consumers, while at the same time delivering clear benefits in terms of reduced environmental and climate impacts.