First-of-its-kind reusable takeaway packaging system launches in Denmark

TOMRA and Aarhus municipality launch a groundbreaking three-year pilot, introducing an open system that shifts cities from single-use to reusable takeaway packaging.

The innovative approach, currently being tested in Aarhus, offers convenience for businesses and consumers, allowing packaging from various providers to be easily returned to shared automated collection points 24/7.

The system employs deposit reimbursements for high return rates and collaborates with Visa, MasterCard, and Shift4 for seamless contactless payments.

TOMRA manages the entire process, from automated collection to industrial sanitisation, ensuring scalability for a future where reusable packaging becomes the norm.

Nicolaj Bang, Alderman for Technical Services and Environment, Aarhus Municipality, said: Aarhus wants to be a greener and more sustainable city, and one which has the courage to test new solutions. That is why I am really happy that today Aarhus is launching its own deposit system for to-go cups, and that there are so many food establishments in the city that have already shown an interest in providing the cups. We have worked hard in recent years to make this happen, and now it’s time to really test its application in reality. I hope that the residents of Aarhus will embrace this new to-go cup system and that during this pilot project we will hopefully be able to take the next steps needed to expand the system to include several types of takeaway packaging.

The initiative, starting with hot and cold drink containers, aims to expand to cover various takeaway packaging materials, promoting resource efficiency, reducing litter, and creating local job opportunities.