The Rotake Reusable project in Aarhus, operational since January 2024, has effectively reduced waste from disposable cups by partnering with 57 establishments in the HoReCa sector.

Central to the Rotake system are 30 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) that allow customers to return reusable cups for a five-kroner deposit, achieving over 500,000 returns and an impressive 85% return rate within just eight months.

A recent municipal waste survey highlighted the effectiveness of the Rotake system, revealing fewer than 10 reusable cups in a 2,000 kg sample.

Louise Lerche-Gredal from Plastic Change emphasized the necessity of scalable reuse systems to move away from a single-use culture, urging cities to adopt these innovative solutions.

On October 3, 2024, the ReuSe Vanguard Project (RSVP) announced the addition of Plastic Change as a core partner, furthering efforts to promote reusable packaging systems across Europe.

The RSVP project, initiated in 2021, aims to tackle Europe's packaging waste crisis and is now bolstered by Plastic Change's involvement, enhancing its impact across the continent.

With each European generating an average of 190 kg of packaging waste annually, the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation seeks a 15% reduction by 2040, positioning Aarhus' system as a crucial step toward this target.

Denmark is recognized as a frontrunner in implementing reuse systems, with a survey indicating that 92% of Danish citizens are willing to engage in such initiatives.

Nathan Dufour from Zero Waste Europe projected that cities could replace single-use waste with sustainable systems, potentially leading to a 54% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Aarhus.

Plastic Change collaborates with partners from various cities, including Rezero in Barcelona, Deutsche Umwelthilfe in Berlin, and Réseau Vrac et Réemploi in Paris, to develop a comprehensive model for reusable takeaway packaging.

A webinar scheduled for October 8 will discuss Aarhus' transition to reuse systems, featuring insights from local project manager Simon Smedegaard Rossau.