The Reuse Handbook and the calculation tool are useful for anyone who wants to use or encourage reusable packaging for takeaway and delivery meals. These can be individual catering operators, but also local umbrella initiatives or municipalities.

With these instruments, environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux helps the catering sector to set up their takeaway and delivery service with reusable meal packaging in as environmentally friendly a way as possible.

The handbook details which choices can be made in each step of the chain, and what their advantages and disadvantages for the environment are.

The handy calculation tool can support you to quickly and clearly calculate the environmental impact of reusable packaging compared to disposable packaging when setting up your reuse system. In this way, we help catering operators to make those choices that are best for the environment.

More and more takeaway and delivery meals

Especially since the corona pandemic, more and more Belgians and Dutch people are using takeaway and delivery meals. For instance, one in twenty Dutch evening meals is now ordered outside the home. In Flanders, 55% of restaurants offer takeaway. Unfortunately, all those takeaway and delivery meals are usually in single-use packaging. This leads to more waste and litter. Therefore, interest in reusable alternatives is growing in both Belgium and the Netherlands.

In Germany, the government has already decided that catering operators must offer their customers a reusable alternative to disposable packaging for takeaway from 2023. The Dutch government is also currently looking at how it can stimulate reusable meal packaging and discourage single-use packaging. In Belgium, decision-making is still ongoing regarding the transposition into local implementation of the European single-use plastic directive with the aim of promoting reuse. In Flanders, from 2022, after cups, single-use meal containers will also be banned for the internal operations and events of Flemish authorities and local governments.

The Reuse Handbook

The Reuse Handbook from Recycling Netwerk Benelux is the perfect tool for entrepreneurs who want to make the transition from disposable to reuse. This handbook answers all the practical questions for those who want to get started with reusable packaging.

It is written based on concrete experiences with pilot projects for collecting and delivering reusable containers. This handbook helps you make important decisions: how do you ensure that the reusable packaging is returned, how can you clean them (or have them cleaned) and what about food safety? But also: what is the business case for reusable packaging? Is it affordable?

Why reuse? There is a major evolution underway. Thanks to a European directive that limits the use of single-use plastics for takeaway meals, among other things, new rules are coming to all EU member states to reduce disposable packaging and encourage reuse. To make reuse the new norm, we want to unburden catering entrepreneurs and help them set up an affordable system.

Reuse is becoming the norm. For instance, Flemish municipalities will also all have to make the ban on single-use cups at events a reality next year. In addition, a ban on single-use catering equipment within Flemish municipalities and OCMWs will enter into force. So this is the ideal moment to join this sustainable evolution.

In addition to the overview of available meal containers and systems, the Reuse Handbook also explains the findings from our survey among consumers and restaurants. Two things are certain: reuse offers an economic and sustainable alternative to disposable. But there is no single holy grail solution. That is why the handbook offers guidance through all the options.

The handbook was made with the support of Vlaanderen Circulair.

You can browse through the Reuse Handbook below

You can download the Reuse Handbook (free of charge; PDF format)

Reuse tool: Calculate the impact of reusable packaging for takeaway and delivery meals 

Reusable packaging for takeaway and delivery meals is usually better for the environment than disposable packaging. However, the way the reuse system is set up determines the environmental impact. For example, it is not recommended that consumers also wash up at home manually or in the dishwasher. It is better to rinse them with cold water at most, and leave the real cleaning to restaurants or a professional dishwasher. Delivery and collection by bicycle are also more environmentally friendly than transport by scooter. And of course, the reusable packaging must return to the restaurants in sufficient numbers. In short, the entire chain from restaurant to customer and back determines whether reusable packaging is better for the environment than disposable packaging or not. These aspects are included in this calculation

The Reuse Handbook and the calculation tool are useful for anyone who wants to use or encourage reusable packaging for takeaway and delivery meals. These can be individual catering operators, but also local umbrella initiatives or municipalities.

With these instruments, environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux helps the catering sector to set up their takeaway and delivery service with reusable meal packaging in as environmentally friendly a way as possible.

The handbook details which choices can be made in each step of the chain, and what their advantages and disadvantages for the environment are.

The handy calculation tool can support you to quickly and clearly calculate the environmental impact of reusable packaging compared to disposable packaging when setting up your reuse system. In this way, we help catering operators to make those choices that are best for the environment.

More and more takeaway and delivery meals

Especially since the corona pandemic, more and more Belgians and Dutch people are using takeaway and delivery meals. For instance, one in twenty Dutch evening meals is now ordered outside the home. In Flanders, 55% of restaurants offer takeaway. Unfortunately, all those takeaway and delivery meals are usually in single-use packaging. This leads to more waste and litter. Therefore, interest in reusable alternatives is growing in both Belgium and the Netherlands.

In Germany, the government has already decided that catering operators must offer their customers a reusable alternative to disposable packaging for takeaway from 2023. The Dutch government is also currently looking at how it can stimulate reusable meal packaging and discourage single-use packaging. In Belgium, decision-making is still ongoing regarding the transposition into local implementation of the European single-use plastic directive with the aim of promoting reuse. In Vlaanderen, from 2022, after cups, single-use meal containers will also be banned for the internal operations and events of Flemish authorities and local governments.

The Reuse Handbook

The Reuse Handbook from Recycling Netwerk Benelux is the perfect tool for entrepreneurs who want to make the transition from disposable to reuse. This handbook answers all the practical questions for those who want to get started with reusable packaging.

It is written based on concrete experiences with pilot projects for collecting and delivering reusable containers. This handbook helps you make important decisions: how do you ensure that the reusable packaging is returned, how can you clean them (or have them cleaned) and what about food safety? But also: what is the business case for reusable packaging? Is that affordable?

Why reuse? There is a major evolution underway. Thanks to a European directive that limits the use of single-use plastics for takeaway meals, among other things, new rules are coming to all EU member states to reduce disposable packaging and encourage reuse. To make reuse the new norm, we want to unburden catering entrepreneurs and help them set up an affordable system.

Reuse is becoming the norm. For instance, Flemish municipalities will also all have to make the ban on single-use cups at events a reality next year. In addition, a ban on single-use catering equipment within Flemish municipalities and OCMWs will enter into force. So this is the ideal moment to join this sustainable evolution.

In addition to the overview of available meal containers and systems, the Reuse Handbook also explains the findings from our survey among consumers and restaurants. Two things are certain: reuse offers an economic and sustainable alternative to disposable. But there is no single holy grail solution. That is why the handbook offers guidance through all the options.

The handbook was made with the support of Vlaanderen Circulair.

You can browse through the Reuse Handbook below

You can download the Reuse Handbook (free of charge; PDF format)

Reuse tool: Calculate the impact of reusable packaging for takeaway and delivery meals

Reusable packaging for takeaway and delivery meals is usually better for the environment than disposable packaging. However, the way the reuse system is set up determines the environmental impact. For example, it is not recommended that consumers also wash up at home manually or in the dishwasher. It is better to rinse them with cold water at most, and leave the real cleaning to restaurants or a professional dishwasher. Delivery and collection by bicycle are also more environmentally friendly than transport by scooter. And of course, the reusable packaging must return to the restaurants in sufficient numbers. In short, the entire chain from restaurant to customer and back determines whether reusable packaging is better for the environment than disposable packaging or not. These aspects are included in this calculation tool which calculates the impact of the packaging choices.

The handbook and the tool result from the Deliveround project that Recycling Netwerk Benelux set up with Deliveroo in the city of Hasselt (Belgium). This project was funded by Vlaanderen Circulair. Both the Handbook and the tool are applicable to all catering establishments in the Netherlands and Belgium. Recycling Netwerk Benelux asked environmental innovation student Timo Verburgt to develop the calculation tool as part of his combined graduation project and internship. His management summary and report are also publicly accessible.

For questions or information about the Reuse Handbook or the calculation tool, please contact jose.potting@recyclingnetwerk.org.