Open Contest

Relooped Packaging Challenge

Innovate Packaging and Zero Waste Shopping Experience for a Sustainable Future in food retail shop

Are you a student, innovator, entrepreneur, or sustainability enthusiast with groundbreaking ideas to transform how we use and recycle packaging?

Join the contest Relooped Packaging Challenge and show your idea of a better society with sustainable solutions for coffee mugs and zero waste shopping experience in food retail shop.

Recyclable, reusable, or biobased plastics offer diverse components that can be utilized in various packaging applications in food industries. While these plastics can pose challenges in recycling, they hold significant potential to meet market demands by incorporating biobased or recycled materials into existing products. Moreover, they can enable the creation of entirely new products, replacing those made from non-renewable resources.

By integrating recycled, reusable, or biobased plastics into packaging solutions, businesses can contribute to a circular value chain that generates substantial environmental, social, and economic benefits, not only locally but also within the global market.

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Inspirational video from COOP Danmark

Inspirational video from ZABKA Poland

INNOVATION CHALLENGE 01 – Sorting, collection, recycling, and design of a new circular business model for single-use coffee cups and lids

Disposable coffee mugs generate a significant amount of waste. The challenge is to design a solution for deposit return systems for coffee mugs, focusing on collection, recycling, and the design of a new circular business model. Examples include:

  1. Efficient collection systems.
  2. New business models that promote reuse and return system.

Solutions for a store-wide collection system, where users can return empty cups.

  • Inspiration on design solution:

    1. An intuitive user solution that makes it visible and easy to dispose of cups.
    2. A form or mechanical/electronic mechanism that ensures the collection system is not used for and polluted with other types of waste.
    3. A robust physical design that enables placement in outdoor areas in the public space
    4. Develop a functional feature that allows for the user to register and receive a monetary deposit refund when returning a used cup.
    5. Develop a business model that provides rewards and incentives for consumers using the recycling system.
    6. A way of marking the cups with instructions of the described reuse system.
    7. Enabling an economically viable solution for scaling up the collection system and associated facilities and personnel resources for ongoing operation.
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Innovation Challenge 02 — Reuse, refill and design of circular packaging systems or business models for zero waste solutions

Zero waste solutions for food and beverage can greatly reduce waste. The challenge is to design solutions that focus on reuse, refill, and the design of new circular business models. Examples include:

  1. Refillable packaging systems.
  2. Business models that encourage reuse.
  3. Innovative materials that are both sustainable and practical.

Designing solutions for refill shopping systems where users can apply reusable containers and other refill solutions to purchase retail food categories.

  • Inspiration on design solution:
    1. The retail store will sell the reusable packaging with a possibility for users to receive a deposit fee when and if returning the containers at a future point.
    2. The containers should be ownership and responsibility of consumers to clean and maintain.
    3. The containers should be designed focusing on hygienic level, eco design and marking of the content types.
    4. The system should include an easy way for the store to handle pricing and purchase of the items as well as for the consumer to see the price of the items/amounts.
    5. Develop a business model that provides rewards and incentives for consumers to choose the refill shopping system.
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Innovation Challenge 03 — Other Innovative Solutions

This is your chance to contribute to a more sustainable future while showcasing your ideas to leading stakeholders and industries. Feel free to bring new ideas which are not fitting challenge 1 or 2.

Participate
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Register before March 20th
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Frequently asked questions
  • Why should I participate?

  • By joining the Relooped Packaging Challenge, you will:

    1. Network with Key Stakeholders: Engage with industry experts, sustainability professionals, and other relevant organizations.

    2. Refine Your Ideas: Participate in online Q&A session after submission of the idea to make your solution more viable.

    3. Access Unique Benefits

    Winners will receive

    A) Networking Opportunities – Invitations to international conference: Chance to present the solution in front of the experts from the industry at the international conference and opportunity to meet people from the industry on 21st May 2026 in Malmö Sweden.

    B) Online Recognition: Featuring winners on the event’s website and social media.

    C) Recognition on a Professional Platform: Winners will receive a formal acknowledgment that can be highlighted on their CV, showcasing their innovative contributions to sustainable food packaging.

  • How will I participate in each step?

  • 1. Register: Complete the “Open Contest Registration” form and register your project idea.
    2. Submit Your Proposal: Submit your idea and upload your project proposal. Form to submit proposal will be forwarded by e-mail.
    3. Showcase Your Solution: Your idea will be evaluated by our expert panel.
    4. Develop Your Idea: Selected participants can attend Q&A session with experts and receive feedback to refine their solution.
    5. Final: Result announcement via email. Winners will be invited to the international conference to present their solution.

  • What will my idea be evaluated on?

  • Your proposal will be assessed based on:
    1. Suitability (Doest it makes sense?): Alignment with market potential, resource and cost efficiency, and sustainability.
    2. Feasibility (Can it be done?): Product value, resource availability, technical feasibility, scalability, and reproducibility.
    3. Acceptability (Will stakeholders easily understand it?): Socio-economic impact, environmental impacts, potential for partnerships, and risk assessment.

  • Does my proposal need to focus on specific materials?

  • The focus is on innovative solutions for packaging and return systems. If your idea includes materials other than the plastic but aligns with the challenge’s goals, emphasize how it can address waste reduction and enhance recyclability.

  • International scope?

  • While the challenge emphasizes local impact, proposals with international outreach are welcome. Demonstrate how your solution creates value locally while having potential scalability beyond.

  • How will my findings or results be shared?

  • The organizing team will actively support communication efforts to promote key findings from the Relooped Packaging Challenge. Participants are also welcome to share their outcomes independently.

  • How can I protect my intellectual property (IP)?

  • If your idea involves business secrets or proprietary technology, present it in a way that doesn’t disclose sensitive details. Note that Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) cannot be offered, as this is part of a publicly funded project.

  • How can participants contact the project team?

  • For questions or further details, feel free to reach out to Relooped group on relooped@bofa.dk

Who can participate?

Whether you are a student or expert in packaging design, circular systems, sustainable development or someone with a unique perspective, we want to hear from you!

  1. We welcome:
    1. Individuals
    2. Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups
    3. Freelancers
    4. Researchers and students from diverse backgrounds.
  2. Only EU residents over 18 years of age
  3. Interreg South Baltic Retail Relooped Project Partners and their relatives are not eligible to participate in the competition.
  4. If your innovation is within the scope of packaging chain but does not fit into either challenge 1 or 2 you still have the opportunity to participate in this contest as “Challenge 3” in the submission.
  5. We are committed to foster an inclusive and equitable environment for all participants in the Relooped Packaging Challenge. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, ability, or circumstances, has the opportunity to participate fully and contribute to their unique perspectives.

We value diversity in all forms, including but not limited to:

  1. Gender identity and expression
  2. Ethnicity, religion, race, and cultural background
  3. Physical and cognitive abilities
  4. Socioeconomic status
  5. Educational background

Why Participate?

  • Gain Visibility: Present your idea to professionals and industry experts.
  • Collaborate: Network with experts in sustainability, design, and circular systems.
  • Make an Impact: Contribute to reducing waste and building a circular economy.
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How to Participate

1. Register: Complete the [Open Contest Registration] and register your project idea.

2. Submit Your Proposal: Submit your idea and upload your project proposal. Form to submit proposal will be forwarded by e-mail.

3. Showcase Your Solution: Your idea will be evaluated by our expert panel.

4. Develop Your Idea: Selected participants can attend Q&A session with experts and receive feedback to refine their solution.

What We Are Looking For

Successful ideas will be:

  1. Innovative: Unique and practical approaches to addressing food packaging waste.
  2. Scalable: Solutions that can be implemented across industries or geographies.
  3. Sustainable: Aligned with circular economy principles.
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Why participate?

If you are among the winners of the Relooped Packaging Challenge Contest, you will be offered a package of benefits.

  1. Networking Opportunities:
    Invitations to international conference: Chance to present the solution in front of the experts from the industry at the international conference and opportunity to meet people from the industry on 21st May 2026 in Malmö Sweden. Travel and accommodation will be paid by the organizing team for maximum 3 people.
  2. Online Recognition:
    Featuring winners on the event’s website and social media.
  3. Recognition on a Professional Platform”:
    Winners will receive a formal acknowledgment that can be highlighted on their CV, showcasing their innovative contributions to sustainable food packaging.

 

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