www.sdk.lu

Christian Behmel

ECOBOX - What is it about?

• Luxembourg's national return-and-refill system to take away food and leftovers

23.09.2019 4

ECOBOX – Méi laang genéissen

L'ECOBOX - MÉI LAANG GENÉISSEN - An action of the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development

Partner:

Why ECOBOX?

• Reduction of waste volume1. Reduction of food waste

EUROPE 2020 strategy against „wasting of food“

FAO strategy „ End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture“

2. Saving of one-way packaging DIRECTIVE (EU) 2019/904 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE

COUNCIL of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment

What characteristics must the box have?

– sustainable

– appealing

– rugged

– unbreakable

– tight

– microwaveable

– food-neutral

– high quality recyclable

– hygienic

– practical to handle

• Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) 100%

• temperature resistant between -20°C and +100°C

• microwaveable and can also be easily used for storage in the freezer

• very robust, high strength and stiffness

• good chemical resistance

• temperature resistant from -20°C to +100°C

• microwave safe and can also be used for storage in the freezer without any problems

Material of the bowl

• Polyethylene (PE) 100%

• high chemical resistance

• temperature resistant from -60°C to +85°C

• it is well suited for freezing containers

• not suitable for microwaves

• tight-closing

Material of the lid

• The participating companies are well recognizable by the logo.

• In all the participating restaurants, for a deposit of 5€, you can take away your meal in an ECOBOX.

• The meal can be consumed later, at home, in the office, or on the road.

• The ECOBOX should be washed after use.

ECOBOX – How it works

• At the next visit to the restaurant, return the ECOBOX and receive your deposit back or exchange the ECOBOX for a newly professionally washed container to take another meal.

• Defective ECOBOXes can be exchanged for new containers in all participating restaurants. These are then returned to the manufacturer and used as raw material for new products.

ECOBOX – How it works

•

• ECOBOXes in circulation

– Little box 500 ml 11‘203 pieces

– Big box 1000 ml 34‘607 pieces

more than 45‘800 boxes since June 2018(99 restaurants, 44 canteens, 59 school canteens, 1 municipality = 203 partners in August 2019)

ECOBOX – facts

• Luxembourgs Popular Walking Federation

• 70-75 hikes a year

• Each with more than 1000 participants

• 200‘000 one-way cups per year

3000 reusable mugs with lid

Other campaign

Resources potential(EOL-status)

• new reusable systems in trade

• producers' contribution to environmental costs

• clear labeling for "non-recyclable" waste

• Further deposit systems

Proposals to strengthen reuse packaging

Thank you