REUSABLE TAKEAWAY CONTAINERS PILOT DELIVERS PROMISING RESULTS IN TAMPERE

A three-month pilot introducing reusable takeaway food containers at K-Supermarket Ratina in Tampere has delivered encouraging results, demonstrating strong customer engagement and measurable reductions in packaging waste. The initiative is part of the Horizon Europe-funded STOPP project, which supports the transition towards circular economy solutions for plastic food packaging.

Launched in October 2025, the trial enables customers to choose deposit-based reusable containers for ready-to-eat meals and service counter food. Customers pay a small deposit at the till, receive a waterproof sticker as proof of purchase, and can bring the container back on later visits to refill it or return it for a refund.

During the first three months of the pilot:

– More than 500 single-use containers were replaced with reusable alternatives.

– Around 50 regular customers adopted the system, with many reusing containers multiple times.

– Feedback highlighted the ease of use and durability of the containers as key benefits.

According to retailer Marko Laaksonen (K-Supermarket Ratina), customers have welcomed the concept and value having a simple, more sustainable choice when buying takeaway food.

The pilot also reflects the direction of travel in Europe, as EU packaging policy continues to encourage reuse and waste prevention. In Tampere, the test will continue until the end of March 2026, generating further insights into customer behaviour and the practical operation of reuse systems in a retail environment. Partners including reCIRCLE and researchers from the University of Vaasa are contributing to monitoring and analysis, helping assess how such solutions could be scaled beyond the pilot.

Through pilots like this, STOPP continues to demonstrate how collaboration between retailers, solution providers and researchers can reduce single-use packaging and accelerate the shift to a more resource-efficient future.

Original text from Ekokumppanit website