Blog - RevoUnion

Have you also noticed how a significant amount of waste is generated day after day due to food packaging in your own home—and even more so in your office environment? Promoting the circular economy is not only beneficial for the environment, but it has also become essential, as we have simply been overwhelmed by single-use packaging.

Enough of single-use plastic containers

According to a report by the European Parliament, approximately 22 million tons of plastic ended up in nature in 2019. Forecasts suggest that this number could double by 2060. Even more concerning is that half of the plastic waste intended for recycling must be transported outside the EU, as there is a lack of sufficient opportunities, technology, and resources within the region. As a result, by 2021 waste exports had reached 33 million tons. It is “ironic” that products originating from outside the EU must be transported again for recycling purposes, further increasing the carbon footprint generated during transportation processes.

Is paper or PLA food packaging an alternative?

Although paper and PLA food containers are more environmentally friendly in terms of their composition, their recycling is not as simple as one might think. Most paper food containers—similarly to paper cups—also receive a plastic lining, which complicates the recycling process. PLA materials can only be disposed of in industrial composting facilities, and there are currently no such facilities in Hungary. As a result, these products still end up in landfills and incinerators in significant quantities, meaning no real progress is made in reducing overall waste.

What is the solution?

A pioneering service that keeps food containers in circulation for as long as possible—and is also based on local production—may provide the answer. With our RevoBox service, this is exactly what we do, while continuously monitoring opportunities for further development.

Does RevoBox really help? Let the numbers speak!

The canteens of BME integrated the RevoBox system in April 2022, built on a fully circular model using reusable PP containers. According to data from November 2023, prior to the introduction of the reusable food container system, BME canteens used more than 40,000 single-use main-course containers and 15,000 soup containers annually. In total, this generated nearly 1.4 tons of plastic waste per year, which they successfully eliminated entirely with the introduction of RevoBox.

Since its launch, more than 1,900 users have registered in the RevoBox application, and the number of transactions has exceeded 40,000. The results show that 96% of users keep the containers in circulation. Examples like this clearly demonstrate that change is possible!

Preparing for the future

In the past, reuse was completely everyday practice. Just think of refilling soda bottles or your grandmother’s reusable shopping bag. Despite the fact that these solutions are still available to us today, convenience—and let’s be honest, laziness—leads us to use new packaging materials every day, only to “conveniently” throw them away afterward.

The process should be imagined in the same way it used to work: we pay for the service and the packaging, keep the packaging, clean it, then refill and reuse it. Modern solutions, however, offer more hygienic, more durable (PP instead of glass), and more digitalized—that is, more traceable—alternatives.

One thing is certain: all stakeholders, both at the user and corporate levels, must prepare for the fact that environmentally conscious food consumption and packaging will be unavoidable in the long term.

Environmental awareness is one of today’s most important social and economic issues, especially in the hospitality industry and event venues, where single-use plastic can no longer be considered a sustainable option. Choosing between environmentally friendly alternatives is based not only on practical considerations but also on a commitment to sustainability. In this article, we examine four different options: compostable cups, reusable plastic cups (deposit cups), stainless steel cups, and paper cups.

Compostable cups

On the market, we can find many cups labeled with environmentally friendly terms such as “compostable,” “biodegradable,” or “plant-based.” These labels have become particularly attractive in environmentally conscious hospitality, however, in reality it is important to examine the credibility of these labels and their actual environmental impact. There are several factors that require a critical approach and a deeper understanding of what these terms truly mean.

The advantage of compostable materials is that, when properly composted, they can benefit the soil. The material typically used for producing these cups is starch-based polylactic acid (PLA), a type of bioplastic made from plants such as corn, potatoes, or sugar beet. Their intended benefit is that after use, under proper composting conditions, they decompose and reduce landfill waste. The problem is that most of them end up in oceans and landfills because they do not reach specialized composting facilities. Industrial composting requires high temperatures and precisely controlled humidity levels, and it is not available in many regions. According to a study, PLA products did not decompose even after 60 days of incubation at 35°C.

When is this option worth choosing?

The use of biodegradable cups can only be considered truly conscious if selective collection and proper industrial processing are ensured; otherwise, these products also end up in landfills.

Reusable plastic cups (aka deposit cups)

Reusable cups are most commonly made of PP (polypropylene), as the material’s rigidity provides excellent durability.

From an environmental footprint perspective, producing reusable cups may initially result in higher CO2 emissions than single-use or compostable alternatives.

A life cycle assessment by Denkstatt Hungary, examining RevoCup products, shows that producing different sizes results in emissions of 0.139 kg CO2-eq (3 dl), 0.176 kg CO2-eq (4 dl), and 0.187 kg CO2-eq (5 dl). However, through multiple uses (up to 500 times), this initial emission is quickly amortized, as the 500 ml RevoCup typically begins to perform better environmentally after five uses in terms of GWP (Global Warming Potential).

But how can a cup remain in circulation up to 500 times?

It is essential that hospitality operators choose partners who operate cups within a system. This ensures that if a guest takes the cup home after first use, they can later return it at any partner location. Continuous education is also crucial, as both service providers and operators are responsible for properly informing guests about the system’s operation and necessity.

The purpose of a circular system is to ensure cups do not end up in trash bins or collecting dust on kitchen shelves but remain in use as long as possible.

Stainless steel cups

Stainless steel cups also offer an excellent alternative to single-use products. Although across Europe there are currently very few companies operating these within a system (rather than just selling them), and limited data is available about their environmental impact, research does provide relevant climate data. According to a publicly available life cycle analysis, a stainless steel cup used five times has a total CO2 emission of 234,776 kg, which significantly decreases to 1,437 kg after 300 uses. While these are high numbers, it must be considered that stainless steel cups have a high recycling rate at end of life, significantly reducing emissions through repeated reuse.

Paper cups

Paper-based products are among the most common replacements for single-use plastic cups. Paper is naturally recyclable as long as it does not come into contact with other materials. However, most paper cups contain a thin plastic lining to prevent leakage, and as a result only 0.25% are recycled. Additionally, this alternative cannot be considered sustainable because approximately 20 million trees are cut down annually to produce single-use paper cups. This is a significant number considering that these cups typically end up in landfills after a single use.

So which is the best option?

Environmentally conscious decisions depend not only on product type but also on how effectively users and providers integrate them into sustainable practices. In the long term, the most sustainable solution is one that operates within a system and does not generate unnecessary waste after first use. This requires selecting a user-friendly, interoperable system, proper communication from operators, and responsible use by end consumers.