Last week, students from the Master Urban Technology (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences) presented their work for the research project RE2PACK.
Their challenge:
design an ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ for reusable soft-fruit packaging in an Amsterdam neighbourhood ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐
๐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐.
The projects showed how complex (yet promising!) this challenge is. Students explored key factors such as:
โข Spatial and logistical integration in dense urban areas
โข โReturn-on-the-goโ systems and how walking distance affects return rates
โข Financial feasibility and incentives like deposit schemes
โข Environmental impact: when reuse truly outperforms single-use
โข The role of citizens as both consumers and urban residents
Akeytakeaway: ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐บ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐, including distance, return rates, rotations, and logistics. There is no one-size-fits-all solution but there is clear room for action when value-chain partners collaborate.
Proud of these students for contributing sharp analyses, scenarios, and design choices to the transition toward circular packaging systems in cities. Their work also provides valuable input for further research by our PhD candidates Ignacio G. and Kyenno Scheepers.
Many thanks to all partners and experts for the inspiring discussions looking forward to continuing the conversation!
๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด | With research and education, we accelerate the transition to more reusable packaging systems in the coming years.
Revolutionary Reusable Packaging 