ReLoop is a project intended to combine, within a single system, the automated dispensing of ready-made meals and the return of reusable, traceable packaging in a closed-loop model. According to the assumptions, the solution is expected to reduce the impact of single-use plastic packaging by up to 95% and cut the carbon footprint by 90–95% compared with single-use packaging. The project involves Ausolan, Awayter and ITC Packaging, as well as the AIMPLAS Plastics Technology Centre.
The initiative is driven by the scale of global plastics production and waste. As indicated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), more than 400 million tonnes of plastics are produced worldwide each year, and around half of that output is designed as single-use items. UNEP also reports that less than 10% of this waste is recycled, which is said to increase the level of plastic pollution. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen notes: "we will not emerge from the plastic pollution crisis by relying solely on recycling: we need a systemic transformation to achieve the transition to a circular economy".
ReLoop is presented as a solution previously unavailable on the market: it integrates the dispensing of prepared food and the recovery of containers in order to put them back into circulation, rather than sending them only to recycling. The consortium is expected to develop a comprehensive circular model covering the circulation of reusable packaging, monitoring its lifespan and automated management of returns. The project is also positioned within a regulatory context. In Spain, Law 7/2022 imposes a tax on the use of non-reusable packaging at a rate of €0.45 per kilogram of non-recycled plastic placed on the market.
As Amaia Agirre, Director of Innovation at Ausolan, emphasises, "closed-loop reuse is one of the most effective alternatives for reducing the use of single-use plastics, but it requires overcoming significant technological and logistical challenges".
Reusable and traceable food packaging
One of ReLoop’s main objectives is the development of food-contact packaging that is both reusable and traceable. The target is resistance to at least 40 use cycles while maintaining food-contact safety, functionality and an appearance acceptable to the user.
To achieve this, the partners are working on materials expected to retain performance through washing and drying processes without a deterioration in packaging quality. In parallel, the project assumes that the packaging will be recyclable at the end of its useful life.
Nuria López, lead researcher in Packaging at AIMPLAS, states: "it is not just about the container lasting longer, but about ensuring that it remains safe, functional and accepted by the user with every reuse".
24/7 digital canteen with automated container return
Another area of work concerns the management and tracking of reusable packaging so that reuse is effective and measurable. ReLoop is intended to include solutions enabling the "journey" of each container to be tracked and the number of uses within the system to be monitored.
In parallel, an automated canteen model is to be developed, integrating meal dispensing and the return of reusable containers for the first time. The concept is a fully digital, 24-hour service enabling meal booking and contactless payments, combined with a container return system for subsequent washing and reuse. According to the project description, there are currently no solutions that combine, within a single system, the dispensing of prepared food with the recovery of containers in order to put them back into circulation.
Amaia Agirre summarises: "the aim is to close the loop: deliver the food, recover the container, sanitise it and reuse it with every guarantee".
Washing, drying and food safety
The project also includes the development of washing and drying protocols tailored to reusable containers and the food they contain. It is indicated that these processes are key to ensuring cleanliness without material degradation and to limiting food-safety risks, as inadequate drying can encourage microbial growth.
As a result, ReLoop is intended to lead to the design of a circular model applicable mainly to catering in communal settings, while addressing the technological, logistical and business-model challenges required to achieve technical and economic viability.
As Nuria López from AIMPLAS concludes: "collaboration between companies and technology centres is essential to ensure that these new reuse models can reach the market with a guarantee of success".
The ReLoop project is funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the State Research Agency (AEI) under the 2024 Public-Private Partnership call for proposals and is co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
