The pilot programme is being implemented at 19 Pressbyrån stores across southern Sweden as part of preparations for the upcoming legal obligation in Sweden that requires establishments offering take-away food to provide reusable packaging
The pilot project is being implemented by Stora Enso and its partners at 19 Pressbyrån stores across southern Sweden. (Credit: Stora Enso)
Finnish renewable materials company Stora Enso and Swedish convenience store chain Pressbyrån are partnering with &Repeat for piloting a large-scale project in Sweden to offer reusable coffee cups to customers.
According to Stora Enso, it is the first reuse project in an open environment in the country, which is aiming to gear up for the new law to be introduced in January 2024. The new law aims to cut down the use of single-use packaging.
Through the pilot project, Stora Enso expects to understand what will be needed for a system like this, to be ready when the new law is enforced.
Stora Enso circular products and services business development manager Nathalie Kalivas Jönsson said: “We are doing this to learn. How hard is it to get a circular system in place in an open environment? Will customers be excited or not?
“Which are the big challenges, and will this be the most sustainable way of handling takeaway food? We don’t know but are eager to find out!”
The pilot project will test offering customers the option of a reusable cup when buying a hot beverage from Pressbyrån stores. It will be undertaken by Stora Enso, Reitan Convenience in Sweden, and &Repeat.
When the beverage is finished, the customer will return the cup to a Pressbyrån store. This project forms part of preparations for the upcoming legal obligation that requires establishments offering takeaway food to provide reusable packaging.
As per the new Swedish law, all stores or restaurants that offer take-aways of more than 150 units of food and beverage in disposable packaging per day are required to offer an alternative in the form of reusable packaging.
The packaging must be part of a rotation system and returned following usage. Customers have the option of reusable or single-use packaging.
The pilot programme is being implemented since April 2023 at 19 Pressbyrån stores across southern Sweden until the close of June end. The cups that are reusable are available in sizes of 200ml and 400ml.
In addition, disposable packaging is still available at the stores, said Stora Enso.
Recently, the Finnish renewable materials company in partnership with Blue Ocean Closures and AISA has developed a first-of-its-kind paperboard tube with a fibre-based closure with an aim to further reduce plastic in packaging.