The global movement against single-use plastics is gaining unstoppable momentum.
Consumers, businesses, and policymakers alike are demanding change, with 85% of people worldwide supporting a ban on harmful and unnecessary single-use plastics, according to WWF. Governments around the world are listening and responding, with around 175 countries joining The Global Plastics Treaty, signalling a new era of circularity.
But while the ambition and benefits of reusables are clear, the transition won’t happen instantly.
BioPak’s Global Head of Sustainability, Lea Maguero, supports a future centred around reusable packaging, but emphasises the need for a pragmatic approach:
“Now more than ever, we need to move toward packaging solutions that align with the circular economy – a more sustainable way of living where materials are treated as precious resources to be continually reused or regenerated.”
“But reusable packaging requires time, infrastructure, and behaviour shifts. Until reuse systems are widely available, compostable packaging plays a critical role in the transition. It ensures we minimise our environmental footprint while working toward long-term reuse.”
The future is reuse, but getting there requires innovation and adaptability.
The Benefits of Reusable Food Packaging
A colossal 91 percent of the plastic produced worldwide isn't recycled – ultimately ending up as rubbish that pollutes our environment, waterways, and oceans.
Today, the arguments for reusable food packaging are clear and well known – it prevents packaging waste, reduces dependency on raw materials, lowers emissions over time, and contributes to a circular economy, where packaging is continuously reused and repurposed.
Introducing Huskee Reusables
Recognising the future is reuse, BioPak is proud to join forces with Huskee, a fellow B Corp designing functional and beautiful reusable products made from waste and recycled materials to accelerate the transition to a waste-free world.
HuskeeOriginal is an iconic and award-winning design made from proprietary waste coffee husk (a byproduct from processing coffee cherries). But Huskee goes beyond simply creating reuse products – they offer reuse services to promote circular economy outcomes.
- HuskeeSwap: a convenient cup exchange program. Cafes and venues register as a ‘HuskeeSwap site’ and purchase a set of HuskeeOriginal cups to begin integrating reuse behaviour into their service for their customers. To participate, customers simply purchase a HuskeeOriginal cup, which can then be used, handed over in a participating venue, and swapped for a cleaned HuskeeOriginal.
- HuskeeLoop: a closed-loop recycling program for end-of-life cups. Through HuskeeLoop, individuals and businesses can return well-used or damaged cups to HuskeeSwap sites, which are then collected by Huskee and transformed into an entirely new product, like the Huskee Dog Bowl.
- Borrow by Huskee: a new system launching in Australia in 2025, Borrow by Huskee is a large-scale reuse system designed for city-wide and precinct-level implementation. Upon its full launch, customers will be able to order a drink in a Borrow cup and return it to any participating venue or nearby Borrow Bin. Huskee can also provide washing at its Sydney Wash Hub to be commercially cleaned and reused. Watch this space.
The Challenges of Reusable Packaging
Reusable packaging has ample benefits, but there are several challenges that businesses and consumers face when trying to implement it effectively.
"Huskee is making significant strides in the reusable packaging space, beginning with cups. Their approach goes beyond innovative products, they’re building comprehensive reuse systems. However, implementation comes with challenges that must be thoughtfully addressed in the broader conversation around reuse" said Maguero.
- Convenience: Many consumers prefer the ease of single-use packaging, so getting them to return or reuse packaging requires incentives and behaviour change.
- Behaviour change: Reusable packaging requires effort from both businesses and consumers. Education is needed to encourage participation and proper use of reusable packaging systems.
- Infrastructure: When implementing reuse systems (going beyond traditional ‘BYO’ behaviour) businesses need proper collection points, storage, and washing facilities to ensure a seamless return and reuse process.
- Up-front investment: Reusable packaging often requires higher initial costs for durable materials, washing facilities, and tracking systems. Some of these costs may be passed onto the consumer through a deposit and return model, which may create a barrier toward use.
- Material choices: The environmental impact of reusable packaging depends on the materials used and the number of reuses needed to offset its footprint, compared to single-use alternatives. For example, HuskeeCups are an effective material choice, as they make use of waste coffee husk, a by-product of the coffee industry which would otherwise go to landfill or be incinerated.
- End-of-life disposal: Even reusable packaging will eventually wear out, so it needs to be designed for recyclability or proper disposal. HuskeeLoop is an example of a closed-loop recycling program.
Huskee: Turning Reuse Challenges into Opportunities
While the transition to reusable packaging comes with hurdles, Huskee is proving that these challenges can be turned into opportunities.
Maguero explains “By designing solutions that address consumer convenience, behaviour change, and infrastructure needs, they’re making reusable packaging more accessible and scalable – starting with cups.”
“Borrow by Huskee is leading the charge in reuse systems. With a free-to-use model, simple returns, and reusable and durable materials, they’re setting an example of how reusable packaging in the future isn’t just possible – the transition has already begun.”
BioPak believes Huskee is the one of the best options on the market for the food service industry.
The Transition to Reuse Won’t Happen Overnight: Compostables Are Part of the Same Solution
While reusable packaging is the ultimate goal, the reality is that widespread adoption will take time. Infrastructure, consumer behaviour, and business operations all need to evolve to support a seamless reuse system. Huskee is making a great start.
Lea Maguero concludes “Certified compostable packaging plays a crucial role in reducing waste and providing a sustainable alternative where reuse isn’t yet viable. Reusable products and single-use compostable packaging are both a part of the same solution: the transition to a circular economy. Certified compostable packaging plays a vital role in closing the loop on food waste – both packaging and organic waste can go in the same bin to be turned into nutrient-rich compost.”
To promote the correct disposal of certified compostable packaging, BioPak launched Compost Connect, a not-for-profit composting platform connecting foodservice businesses to commercial organic waste pick-up services.
For more information, please visit www.biopak.com