Our current projects

Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark

The system now being trialed in Aarhus enables a shift from single-use takeaway packaging to reusable takeaway packaging, by offering an infrastructure that entire cities can use. The REUSEABLE platform in Aarhus is powered by Rotake – a system designed by TOMRA, offering a responsible and convenient way to enjoy your favorite takeaway drinks!

The TOMRA system provides a unique convenience for businesses that offer takeaway food and drinks (like cafés and quick serve restaurants), as well as for consumers. The system is designed as an open system, meaning packaging from different packaging providers can be returned 24/7 to a shared infrastructure of automated collection points in a city.

High packaging return rates are ensured by having monetary return incentives, which in the Aarhus pilot takes the form of a deposit that is paid when purchasing the takeaway food/drink, and afterwards reimbursed in full to the consumer when the packaging is returned to a collection point.

man and woman sitting together on a bench against an ochre wall, each holding a REUSEABLE cup

In the first stage the new system focuses on hot and cold drink containers, such as takeaway coffee cups. When returning the reusable cups to one of the automated TOMRA collection points specifically used for takeaway packaging, the customer receives the deposit reimbursement directly on their card/account. This is possible by tapping a contactless payment credential (card, phone, smartwatch, etc.) to activate the dedicated TOMRA collection point. 

The payment system is enabled through a collaboration with Visa, MasterCard and Shift4, a leading provider of integrated payment and technology solutions.

Woman in red coat and black hat tapping phone on TOMRA Reuse machine
Woman in red coat and black hat returning reusable cup at TOMRA Reuse machine

In addition to providing bespoke automated collection machines for the reusable takeaway packaging, TOMRA is also responsible for emptying the machines and transporting the packaging to its own industrial sanitization facility that it has set up in Aarhus. The sanitized cups are quality inspected and then ready to go back into the system when retailers order new supplies via an online webshop.

TOMRA therefore ensures businesses don’t need to take back and sanitize packaging themselves, which has been a struggle for most alternative reuse-based takeaway packaging systems. The combination of automated collection and industrialized sanitization means that the system can be scaled to a future where reusable packaging is the norm in society.

After the initial phase which is focused on hot and cold drink beverage cups, the plan is to increase the scope of materials to also cover more types of takeaway packaging (e.g. trays, bowls) – providing a holistic, convenient, and transparent system that can be utilized by all within a city. This will contribute to both better use of resources and help prevent litter in the urban environment. The use of reusable takeaway also has significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to the continued use of single-use takeaway packaging. According to a recent study1, by moving away from single-use cups (for both warm and cold drinks) the potential reduction in GHG emissions is at least 70 percent. Further, besides the environmental benefits and helping to achieve sustainability goals, the system for reusable takeaway packaging also generates local jobs in the community.

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1. “Assessing Climate Impact: Reusable Systems vs. Single-use Takeaway Packaging,” Eunomia, Zero Waste Europe, Reloop and TOMRA, September 2023.

REUSEABLE pilot in Aarhus - FAQ

Aarhus Municipality recognizes its role in curbing litter and preserving a clean cityscape. Addressing the rising demand for a unified reusable packaging system among businesses and residents, the municipality has launched an experiment. This initiative aims to simplify eco-conscious choices for companies and Aarhusianers.
The Rotake REUSEABLE system stands out as the world’s pioneering open urban space solution for reusable takeaway packaging. This innovative system transcends boundaries, offering compatibility across diverse establishments such as restaurants, cafés, and all food takeaway services, catering to both city residents and visitors alike. 
Partners in Aarhus joining this initiative to transition from single-use to reusable cups can easily participate. They simply acquire Rotake REUSEABLE cups from the Rotake webshop and offer them to consumers. When customers order a takeaway drink in a Rotake REUSEABLE cup, the partnering café applies an additional 5 DKK as a deposit charge.  
The system’s partners can simply buy the REUSEABLE cups from the Rotake webshop, covering the cup’s cost along with an additional deposit of 5 DKK incl. VAT.  
The 5 DKK deposit becomes active in all cups purchased by system partners upon delivery. This deposit remains valid for a period of one year from the time of cup delivery, after which it expires. 
Typically, it takes up to 2 business days for the deposit value to be available in the bank account, though depending on the payment method used by a consumer, the refund process may be completed within minutes.  
The cups are made from polypropylene (PP). This durable plastic is designed for prolonged use and can withstand repeated washing. Once the cups reach the end of their usable life or cannot be reused for other reasons, the polypropylene material is recycled.
With proper care, a plastic cup can be reused hundreds of times, making it a sustainable and long-lasting option.  
All cups used in the Rotake REUSEABLE system are collected, cleaned and quality inspected at our sanitization hub in Aarhus before they are made available for reuse. The processes used in our sanitization system have been approved by the Danish Food and Drug Administration.