How can packaging become truly circular? Over the past few years, four VLAIO Living Labs explored how reusable packaging works in practice.
Circularity in Packaging: Four Living Labs on Reuse
Packaging is essential for transport, protection and convenience, but it also causes high material consumption and large amounts of waste. That is why the Living Labs REmedi, SIXPACK, RePACE and RERUN tested reusable solutions across areas such as:
- medical packaging
- beer packaging
- takeaway meals
- cardboard shipping boxes
It Starts With Collaboration
ReuseReuse designates all operations by which substances, materials or products that are not waste are used again in an identical way to their originally intended purpose. only works when every stakeholder in the value chain collaborate. Clear agreements, efficient return logistics and well-organised take-back systems are at least as important as the packaging itself.
This was clearly demonstrated by Remedi: the greatest circular gain resulted not only from a new packaging design, but also from a better-structured value chain. Similarly, RePACE showed that collaboration between the hospitality sector, consumers, logistics partners and public authorities is essential to roll out reusable meal packaging on a larger scale.
Put Theory Into Practice
The Living Labs went beyond theoretical models to test their solutions under realistic conditions.
For example, REmedi developed reusable packaging for clinical trial kits, achieving a potential CO₂ reduction of up to 77.5%.
SIXPACK tested a reusable beer packaging system in 81 stores. The results showed that its CO₂ impact drops below that of traditional cardboard packaging from the eighth reuse cycle onwards.
RERUN, in turn, studied how cardboard shipping boxes and residual paper streams can be given a second life.
Ease of Use Makes the Difference
Users play a key role. While consumers are generally supportive of reusable packaging, this does not automatically translate into circular behaviour. In the SIXPACK project, only around 35% of buyers actually returned the packaging.
The Living Labs prove that seamless take-back systems, clear communication, and practical support are essential to make reuse a success.
The takeaway? Circular packaging has great potential, but technology, logistics, business models and user behaviour must all align.
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