WHY WE CHOOSE THE SYSTEMATIC REUSE PATH
We are convinced that the roots of the greatest societal challenges—climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution—lie in our current linear economic model. That’s why we’re taking the reusable path with zerooo, to keep resources circulating in closed loops and act in an ecologically responsible way. Will you join us?
In Germany, we are familiar with systematic reuse of packaging in the beverage industry: A deposit-based, returnable bottle system. A proven and effective way to avoid single-use waste by reusing packaging. We now konw this system can be excellently expanded to the personal and hoem care space. That’s why we’re creating the zerooo returnable packaging system with innovative packaging solutions and the infrastructure to support it.
Instead of sending resources for incineration or recycling after a single use, zerooo containers are kept in closed loops and reused. This leads to significant long-term CO2 savings compared to single-use packaging.
HOW DOES THE ZEROOO SYSTEM WORK?
HOW DOES THE DEPOSIT WORK?
In Germany, the zerooo systematic reuse network is already available at more than 800 collection and return points across Germany. In Austria, there are now 100 points. And we are looking to expand into additional markets with strong local retail and brand partners. Drugstores, supermarkets, concept stores, hotels, and zero-waste shops are part of the network. You can return your empty zerooo packaging at the checkout or deposit machine and receive your deposit (€0.50) back.
REUSE FOR RECYCLING
In an optimal returnable packaging system, all materials are designed to be reused after cleaning (Reuse) and to be separated by type and processed for the same purpose at the end of life(Recycle). On one hand, reusing the bottle maximizes its utility. On the other hand, 100% recycling prevents waste and avoids downcycling.
Even today, our zerooo glass containers circulate up to 30 times. After that, they are fully processed: the labels go into recycled paper, and the pumps are removed, collected, and 100% sorted for recycling.
Thanks to the innovative design of our PET containers, at teh end of their reuse-lives, the bottles are disassembled and reprocessed into equivalent products. By maintaining closed material loops, resource loss and downcycling are avoided. The zerooo returnable packaging network can thus revolutionize the existing system and contribute to a sustainable and livable future.
RECYCLING — GOOD IN THEORY?
Only a fraction of the resources used are actually recycled. The variety of different types of plastics and their combinations in containers, labels, and closures make it impossible for sorting facilities to economically separate the materials in a way that allows for a higher percentage of recyclate to be recovered. This often results in the materials being thermally processed—in other words, incinerated.
PURE MATERIAL RECYCLING
The zerooo returnable mono-material bottle is not only standardized for logistics and cleaning, but also in the materials used. When a reusable bottle can no longer be used due to age or damage, it is sorted out at the washing facility. Since all returnable bottles are made from color-standardized mono-material, this creates a pure material stream that does not require complex, costly, and energy-intensive sorting facilities.
