K-Supermarket Ratina is trialing a deposit system for containers, whereby lunch, salad, sushi, or wok dishes can be purchased in reusable containers starting in October. The trial is being conducted as part of the STOPP project led by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
A circular economy pilot project starting in Tampere in October will investigate how the reusable packaging system used in many takeaway restaurants in Europe can be applied to the grocery store environment. The pilot project, which will be implemented in the takeaway section of K-Supermarket Ratina, will start in the second week of October and last for at least three months.
We will use the pilot to determine how to make the system easy for customers to use and efficient for stores,” says Marko Laaksonen, owner of K-Supermarket Ratina.
The trial involves two different types of takeaway containers, which are suitable for various food portions as well as salads and sushi. The system is based on a deposit system: the customer pays a deposit at the checkout and receives a waterproof and washable sticker on the packaging as proof of payment. The next time they visit, they can bring the container with them and pay only for the food. Alternatively, they can return the container and get their deposit back or take a new clean container in its place.
New EU packaging legislation accelerates the development of sustainable solutions
The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is putting pressure on the development of sustainable packaging solutions. The regulation, which came into force in early 2025, aims to have up to 10% of takeaway food sold in reusable packaging by 2030.
The regulation will affect the entire packaging value chain, from design to use and collection systems. The change will have a tangible impact on consumers’ everyday lives, says Katja Alakerttula, project manager and circular economy expert at Kiertotalous Pirkanmaa, operated by Ekokumppanit Oy.
The Tampere reuse trial is being implemented as part of the Horizon Europe-funded STOPP project, which aims to apply the principles of the circular economy to the production and consumption of plastic food packaging. The pilot project in the Tampere region is supported by Ekokumppanit Oy, which also runs consumer campaigns on reuse and recycling. The Swiss company reCIRCLE is the partner for the reuse packaging.
We are very excited to be working with K-Supermarket Ratina on this bold step towards a circular economy. The pilot will provide valuable insights and concrete results over the coming months. We look forward to sharing the results and learning together, says Jeannette Morath, founder and CEO of reCIRCLE.
Further information:
Marko Laaksonen, K-Supermarket Ratina (marko.laaksonen@k-supermarket.fi, 050 385 7570)
Katja Alakerttula, Kiertotalous Pirkanmaa / Ekokumppanit Oy (katja.alakerttula@tampere.fi, 040 153 4498)
