From disposable to reusable
Most ETH Zurich canteens and restaurants will be offering meals in reCIRCLE reusable containers as of 14 September, just in time for the start of the autumn semester.
Although a quick lunch is great and highly practical, the mountains of waste left behind in the form of takeaway packaging often leave a bitter aftertaste. The reusable takeaway boxes from reCIRCLE (see box) have been tested and evaluated in the SV food trailer at ETH’s central campus since September 2018. Now almost all culinary establishments on the campus as well as the food trucks Mundo del Gusto, Wesley’s Kitchen and Hofmann’s Risotto will be introducing the multi-use system for takeaway consumption in time for the start of the semester.
Fighting throwaway culture
The reusable food box from reCIRCLE – known as reBOX – can be washed and microwaved, has a tight seal and offers a sustainable alternative to disposable plates. “Introducing the reBOX helps us to further reduce the amount of waste produced on campus premises,” says Isabelle Castagna, ETH Sustainability Project Manager. It also helps reduce the overall volume of litter – particularly problematic in the form of plastic packaging, which is not biodegradable.
Despite the introduction of the reusable food boxes, disposable containers will still be offered for the time being – guests can therefore choose whether or not to opt for the environmentally-friendly option. “The long-term goal, however, is that eventually we will no longer need the disposable boxes,” says Castagna. The aim is to evaluate how things are going with reusable dishes in a few months.
How does the system work?
The reCIRCLE principle is simple: In addition to a meal, you pay a deposit of ten francs for a purple food container at an ETH restaurant or another restaurant within the reCIRCLE network anywhere in Switzerland.
You then either return this reBOX to a takeaway partner in the network and get the deposit back as soon as you finish eating, or keep it until your next restaurant visit. The boxes undergo an industrial cleaning process at the respective establishment before returning to circulation.
Sustainable alternative to disposable dishes
The reCIRCLE solution is environmentally friendly without requiring a great deal of effort. This is because the reBOX can be reused at least one hundred times. As studies have shown, the reBOX outstrips disposable dishes in terms of its ecological balance after only a few cycles.
In late 2019, ETH Sustainability and the coordinating partner organisations put together an overview study (in German) on all the packaging materials and takeaway containers in ETH culinary establishments. The review served as a basis for the ensuing recommended actions.
“Our analysis also showed that caterers have already taken or are currently taking steps toward optimising pre-packaged foods and drinks,” says Castagna. As examples she names takeaway in glasses and the food packaging materials at Compass and SV restaurants, which are generally less substantial and more environmentally friendly.
Further information
The Bern-based start-up company external page reCIRCLE offers a reusable system for takeaway packaging.
Additional information on packaging and waste van be found here
More on reCIRCLE external page https://www.recircle.ch/en/