ECOBOX food containers
ECOBOX offers multi-purpose containers, with a deposit return system, that can be used either for takeaway food, or to take leftovers home from a restaurant or canteen. Containers are made of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) with a PET lid, and are available in two sizes, 500 ml and one litre.
The “ECOBOX – Méi lang genéissen” project was initially developed to fight against food waste in Luxembourg, upon request from the Environment Ministry. Set up in 2018 by SuperDrecksKëscht® in partnership with the national trade association Horesca, it provided six restaurants, corporate restaurants and cafes with a convenient product for their clients while allowing for substantial food waste reduction. The network of users soon expanded to include 80 restaurants across the country in 2019, and 124 restaurants, 66 corporate restaurants, and 60 school restaurants in May 2020.
The initiative offers considerable potential to reduce the overall volume of waste, because it reduces not only the amount of packaging but also the quantity of food waste. The system is also ecological and sustainable, because defective or damaged ECOBOXes are sent back to the manufacturer and can be reused as raw material to make new products.
To date, ECOBOX remains a voluntary initiative and, for that reason, does not cover all restaurants and catering services in the country. The Environmental Ministry is therefore promoting the model to ensure that its coverage increases, and with it, the corresponding environmental benefits.
