Interpool: International cooperation to scale up the reuse of glass
We want to show the world that there is a more sustainable alternative to throwing away glass bottles and jars. Together with European partners, Fair Resource Foundation is therefore launching Interpool: a cross-border project to enable a joint reuse system for glass bottles and jars. In doing so, Interpool contributes to a faster transition to a circular packaging chain and the EU's ambitions on this theme.
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A well-designed system enables the reuse of glass packaging and transport packaging on a large scale. With the new European project Interpool, fourteen organisations from the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany want to lay the foundation for such a system. The goal: breaking 'bottlenecks' instead of 'bottles'.
Improved systems for reuse
In a circular world, it is possible to wash and reuse our bottles and jars. Reusable glass can play an important role in achieving the targets of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This requires alignment, harmonisation and cooperation across national borders.
Interpool brings together frontrunners to lay the foundation for an efficient pooling system for reusable glass packaging between countries. It focuses on analysing, improving and harmonising existing systems in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. This offers a historic opportunity to strengthen European cooperation and accelerate the transition to reuse across the sector.
In the coming years, we will:
🗺️ Map existing systems in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany
⚙️ Identify technical, logistical and policy bottlenecks🔎 Determine what is needed to make systems work across borders
💬 Learn from the practical experiences of retailers, fillers and innovators
🎯 Develop a joint action plan for reusable glass packaging in Europe
Cross-border cooperation
Interpool brings together fourteen partners in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, including governments, research institutes, trade associations and civil society organisations. Together we are enabling a pooling system for the reuse of glass packaging across borders. This project is funded by the EU under Interreg North-West Europe (NWE).
Partners
We are proud to work together with a fantastic consortium of organisations: Fair Resource Foundation (Lead) (NL); Enviu (NL); Province of South Holland (NL); Verpact / Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) (NL); Citeo (FR); Réseau Vrac et Réemploi (FR); Genossenschaft Deutscher Brunnen eG (GDB) (DE); Mehrwegverband Deutschland e.V. (DE); Pro Mehrweg (DE); Fost Plus (BE); University of Antwerp REuseLab (BE); Mission Zero Academy (BE / EU); New ERA New European Reuse Alliance (BE / EU); Zero Waste Europe (BE / EU).
The following partners have expressed their support for the project with their knowledge or network: Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management; OVAM; ACR+ | Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management; Fevia, the federation of the Belgian food companies; Valorlux asbl; Valipac; Comeos; Wageningen University & Research; Léko Umweltbundesamt German Environment Agency; Deutsche Umwelthilfe; GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg; ConsomAction; Stichting Hergebruik Nu. We would also like to express our gratitude to the parties that provided input to build this project, and to Bureau BUITEN, Het Subsidiehuis and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
