Duni Group launches reusable container pilot in Munich’s Viktualienmarkt

GERMANY – Duni Group has launched a reusable food container initiative in Munich, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to scale reuse systems within urban foodservice environments.

The project, known as ReMuc “Ois im Kreis”, Bavarian for “everything in the circle”, introduces a closed-loop reusable packaging system at the city’s iconic Viktualienmarkt.

As part of the pilot, five automated return stations have been installed at the popular central food market.

Consumers can purchase food or beverages served in reusable containers, return the empty packaging to any of the stations, and receive their deposit back automatically.

The system is designed to be simple for both consumers and vendors, reducing friction that has historically limited reuse adoption in busy foodservice settings.

Nicklas Lauwell, chief officer for Food Packaging Solutions at Duni Group, said the initiative demonstrates that reuse can function beyond small, niche trials.

“Single-use solutions have been the default for good reasons: flexibility, convenience, and hygiene. They will continue to matter,” he said.

“What ReMuc demonstrates is equally important: reuse can work at scale, in real life. Our hope is that this encourages more cities to pilot and adopt similar systems.”

The ReMuc project brings together several partners across the reuse value chain. Recup supplies the reusable containers, Circle Cube provides the automated return machines, and the Cup Company manages logistics and industrial washing.

At the system level, Duni Group’s digital platform, Relevo by Duni, handles deposit management, returns, and traceability, enabling transparency and operational control for all stakeholders involved.

According to Duni Group, the pilot aims to reduce packaging waste, ease operational pressure on market vendors, and establish a scalable model that could be replicated in other cities and public food markets.

The company emphasizes that reuse is not positioned as a replacement for all packaging, but rather as a complementary solution.

“Single-use options still play an important role, especially at large events and high-volume markets,” the company noted, adding that regulatory developments are accelerating the need for alternatives.

The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which places stronger emphasis on waste reduction and reuse, is a key driver behind such pilots.

Reuse systems are gaining momentum globally as brands and venues respond to tightening single-use plastic rules and rising consumer concern about plastic pollution.

In the US, Top Cup recently partnered with the National Football League to introduce reusable aluminium cups across stadiums and fan events.

Meanwhile, packaging solutions provider Returnity has deployed more than 100,000 units of its reusable shipping solution, The Last Box, for a major US retailer to support multichannel commerce and operational efficiency.

Together, these developments signal a growing shift toward hybrid packaging systems, where digitalization and reuse infrastructure enable foodservice operators to choose the right solution for each consumption context.

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