Duni Group begins reusable container project in Munich

Duni Group has launched the ReMuc “Ois im Kreis” (everything in the circle) project, a reusable food container system, in Munich, Germany.

In the ReMuc project, five automated return stations will be placed at the popular food market, Viktualienmarkt, in the city center. Consumers can purchase food or drinks in a reusable container, return it to a station, and receive their deposit back. 

Nicklas Lauwell, chief officer for Food Packaging Solutions at Duni Group, says: “Single-use solutions have been the default for good reasons: flexibility, convenience, and hygiene. They will continue to matter. What ReMuc demonstrates is equally important: reuse can work at scale, in real life. Our hope is that this encourages more cities to pilot and adopt similar systems.”

Other partners in the project include Recup for reusable containers, Circle Cube for return machines, and the Cup Company for logistics and washing. 

According to Duni Group, the goal is to reduce waste, ease the burden on vendors, and create a scalable model. The project uses Duni Group’s digital system, Relevo by Duni, which manages deposits, returns, and traceability.

Balancing systems

Duni Group highlights that single-use options still play an important role in packaging systems, especially at large events such as markets. However, it also notes that changes to EU regulations, such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, are driving the development of reuse solutions. 

“The foodservice industry is undergoing change. New regulations and increasing sustainability requirements are driving solutions that make it possible to reduce waste and increase reuse,” says Duni Group.

“We envision a future where single-use and reusable solutions coexist. Through innovation and digitalization, the conditions are created to choose the right solution for the right context – from quick take-away to large events and city-wide reuse systems.” 

Reuse systems are increasingly popular amid tightening single-use plastic regulations and consumer concern about plastic pollution. 

Recently, Top Cup, a US-based company, partnered with the National Football League to launch its reusable, aluminum cup for “a premium drinking experience at tailgates, watch parties, and stadium experiences nationwide.”

Moreover, Returnity provided The Last Box, a reusable packaging solution, to a US retailer, deploying over 100,000 units within recent months. The solution aims to support the retailer in leveraging physical stores for multichannel commerce while improving inventory accuracy, fulfillment flow, and operational efficiency.