Reusable packaging for take-away food – initial supply chain system design

This document describes the initial supply chain design for reusable packaging to be applied in the take-away food context. The report synthetises knowledge about reusable packaging systems drawn from selected EU reports and company-specific reports, as well as learnings from the implementation of reusable packaging in Europe and Canada. This report focuses on the operational reuse system for reusable consumer packaging and describes the necessary supply chain activities, as well as identifying the actors that need to run it. It also discusses the prerequisites for the logistics infrastructure that will enable the reuse of packaging. The report studies the level of centralisation in washing solutions, including the trade-offs between centralised and local washing. It provides insights into economies of scale compared to the benefits of local washing. We offer examples of solutions for reusable packaging transport units to ensure efficient handling throughout the supply chain, including washing. We also explore incentives to promote the use of existing infrastructure for reuse, including evaluating the actors responsible for managing and participating in the reuse system. The concept of shared assets is discussed. Additionally, the consumer's role as part of the reuse supply chain and the interfaces with consumers will be outlined from the operational viewpoint. The geographical scope of reusable package systems is discussed and the possibilities for scalability are evaluated. The report identifies bottlenecks that could affect the scalability of logistics and washing solutions. The main result of this report is the system design of the reusable packaging supply chain that builds on the reference cases. The solution provided and the optional approaches presented are intended to help companies design the logistics solution in their joint experiment.