For over 30 months, the Reusify project aims to develop reusable packaging systems that will help reduce the use of fossil fuel-based materials for packaging and packaging waste, taking advantage of a budget of 2 million euros funded primarily by Business Finland.
Reusify accelerates the ingestion of package reuse by providing tools and resources to develop scalable, secure and efficient systems and some of their applications. Reusable packaging allows for a transition from a wasted linear economy to a circular economy, extending the lifecycle of materials, preventing packaging from being scattered, increasing the value of digital packaging, and making it economically reusable.
challenge
The increased consumption of fast consumer goods (FMCG) and food intake has led to increased demand for disposable packaging, leading to the challenges of waste management worldwide. According to Eurostat, between 2009 and 2020, the total amount of packaging waste generated in the EU increased by 20%, currently 80 million tonnes and 178kg per EU citizen. Without dramatic changes, the amount of packaging waste will increase by 19% by 2030.
Momentum
There is an increasing number of reusable packaging and associated systems. Supported by its pioneering role and long tradition in the packaging industry, the Finnish packaging ecosystem is at the right moment, and is suited to play a leading role in this rapidly growing market, establishing itself as a leader in true circular packaging solutions and research into circular economy. The technologies and systems developed in the Reusify project will be commercialized over a decade, generating more than 1.45 billion euros of exports to Finland.
Solver
The Reusify ecosystem covers the value chain of packaging reuse from material production to recirculation. Together with the Ecosystem, 21 company partners, Vasa University, VTT develops packaging reuse solutions in interdisciplinary research. This study covers ecosystem reuse, system design reuse from a tracing and logistics perspective, design and testing packaging solutions, validating safety aspects, and governance of sustainability scenarios and trade-offs. VTT is responsible for coordinating the entire project.
the aim
Research projects are not just about developing reusable packaging systems. It is to create new capabilities and export possibilities for a wide range of Finnish industrial actors. From packaging raw materials and packaging itself to tracking, machinery, logistics, cleaning, filling, labeling and software solutions.
This article will also be featured in the 22nd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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