Reusable takeaway container pilot launched in Helsinki grocery stores

A pilot scheme testing reusable takeaway food containers has been launched in the Helsinki metropolitan area, with Orthex among the partners involved in the project.

The initiative, known as the Kiertis pilot, is being carried out in collaboration with the K Group and S Group alongside several other industry and research partners. During the trial, customers purchasing takeaway meals in four grocery stores can choose a reusable container instead of a disposable alternative.

The project is intended to evaluate how a deposit-based system for reusable takeaway packaging operates in practice. The pilot will examine customer uptake, the efficiency of the return system and the potential environmental impact of the model. The trial is being conducted as part of the Reusify project, funded by Business Finland and led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland together with the University of Vaasa.

As part of the pilot, Orthex has supplied 10,000 reusable containers developed for repeated use and washing cycles. The containers are made from bio-based polypropylene and feature a transparent lid designed to allow price labels to be removed easily after use. The design has also been tested for compatibility with different food types and for reheating, including microwave use.

The trial will also assess how the collection, washing and redistribution of containers function within retail operations. The condition and hygiene of returned containers will be monitored throughout the process, with any damaged units removed from circulation.

Customers using the containers pay a €3 deposit, which is refunded when the container is returned. The deposit system is intended to encourage consumers to return the packaging rather than retain it for household use.

Reusable containers are available in four grocery stores in the city of Espoo: Prisma Lippulaiva and Prisma Sello at the Ruokatori service counters, as well as the salad bars at K-Citymarket Sello and K-Supermarket Lippulaiva. Returned containers can be deposited at Kiertis return machines located in the Lippulaiva and Sello shopping centres near bottle return points.

This pilot is a great example of what we can achieve when companies, researchers and retail chains work together toward a common goal. Consumers are at the heart of this trial, we want to understand what truly works for people in their everyday life. By combining practical insights from shoppers with the expertise of our partners, we can develop reuse solutions that are not only ecologically smarter but genuinely convenient to use.

Hanna Kukkonen, Marketing and Sustainability Officer and Head of Product Development, Orthex.

The pilot began in early March. Containers will remain available in participating stores until the end of May, while returns will be accepted until 28 June.

A number of organisations are participating in the project, including Kesko, HOK-Elanto, Pakkauskierrätys RINKI Oy, KiiltoClean Oy, Lassila & Tikanoja, UPM Adhesive Materials, Upcode, Compass Group, Borealis, Transbox and others involved in the reuse and packaging value chain.