KiM

The project tests reusable takeaway solutions for different consumer groups, gastronomy and sales situations and encourages nationwide imitation and distribution with action days and a nationwide forum.

Single-use damages the climate

Takeaway consumption is established in almost all population groups and is constantly increasing. The result is a steadily growing mountain of avoidable disposable packaging made of aluminium shells, coated cardboard boxes and plastic bowls. The consumption of energy and resources that occurs during the production and transport of the packaging and the associated emissions of greenhouse gases are out of all proportion to the use that only lasts a few minutes. The necessity of substitution from disposable to reusable packaging for takeaway consumption is obvious and is being specifically addressed by the project.

Solutions for imitations

In three german regions, more than 60 catering businesses are being supported in the introduction of reusable solutions. For this purpose, different consumer groups such as schoolchildren or work lunch consumers, but also special takeaway situations such as in market halls are considered. The various activities are expected to save around 280,000 packagings and their greenhouse gas emissions within the project period.

Practicable solutions are worked out, made visible to restaurants and consumers and fed into a nationwide forum of actors with multipliers, e.g. from business associations and shopping centres, environmental organisations and representatives of local authorities. Thus, in addition to nationwide action days and accompanying public relations work, information and results are to be disseminated and encouraging others to imitate the approach.

A comprehensive study will close data gaps such as environmental and climate impacts and user behaviour in the takeaway sector and provide important information for the project and potential imitators. It will be made available to the public on the web portal, along with other helpful tips and information on reusable takeaway consumption.

Overview of key work packages and milestones:

• Preparation of the basics of takeaway consumption in a study, e.g. on requirements and barriers, environmental and climate impacts and examples of best practices
• Reusable individual systems for gastronomy with different cultural and culinary orientations (Berlin)
• Reusable pool system for staff/ lunch consumers (Berlin)
• Reusable pool system for a market hall (Bremen)
• Reusable individual system for gastronomy with different cultural-culinary orientations, including kitchens with soups (Bremen)
• Reusable solutions for people under 30: communicated to the right target group
• Development of a web portal with comprehensive information on the subject of reusable takeaway solution
• Development of a nationwide network of actors
• Initiation of supraregional reusable takeaway action days
• Creation of an online seminar, information materials and a brochure to facilitate the transfer of the topic

LIFE e.V. is implementing the project in cooperation with the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND) – Landesverband Bremen e.V. and the ECOLOG-Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung und Bildung gGmbH (Hannover).

Supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany based on a decision by the german parliament.