barePack

Reusable food and beverage containers / Source: barepack

AsiaEuropeFood & BeveragePackaging

4 MINUTE READ

Nadine Smith

WHAT WE SAY:

As life speeds up, the allure of a convenient takeaway meal is only getting stronger. Single-use plastic containers are the backbone of this industry - economical, hygienic, light to transport and easy to open. But the waste they create is reaching astronomical levels, with the average takeaway order containing six pieces of plastic.

If takeaways are not going anywhere, then the single-use plastic packs have to. And barepack has the answer. A systems change approach to takeaway services, its reusable and returnable food containers travel from the restaurant to the consumer and back again. While scaling this solution has its challenges, it has the potential to change our relationship with convenience for good. Rapid adoption, strong reward schemes to incentivise and making this kind of system the new normal is key.

KEY FACTS:

Founded in 2020, and recently acquired by Swedish circular solutions startup &Repeat, barepack provides an alternative to single-use takeaway containers with its range of returnable and reusable packs for online orders.
Available in Singapore, and recently launched in Paris and Lyon, the company claims that it is the first and largest reusable packaging system in the Asian city.
Aiming to connect eco-conscious restaurants with food delivery platforms and their users, barePack has partnered with over 150 food outlets in Singapore, including Sufood, DoCo, Café Melba, woobbee, WellSmoocht, Shake Farm, Tadcaster Hospitality, SaladStop!, Fireless Kitchen, Wheat Baumkuchen and Real Food.
The barepack service is free for users and allows consumers to order food through delivery apps Foodpanda, GrabFood and Deliveroo in multi-use containers. The plastic-based containers are delivered to the front door as normal, and must be returned to the company within 14 days at one of its over 150 participating vendors across the city.
Both registered users and non-registered users can use barepack, making it accessible to all. Non-registered users must pay a small deposit for the safe return of their borrowed containers. When a user has collected five barepacks they are eligible for home collection. After collection, containers are washed and santitised to the Food Safety Singapore standard.
barepack predicts that vendors could save EUR 0.30 (USD 0.36) per order if they switch to its reusable packaging.

New look application for food ordering via barepack / Source: barePack

Reusable food and beverage containers / Source: barepack

DIVE DEEPER:

In 2021, 2.5 million people in Singapore used online food delivery services, with users spending USD 190 on average annually. This is expected to grow to 3.6 million people by 2025.
barepack is making sure our love of takeout does not translate to trash with its two reusable barepack containers, the FlexBox and the KindCup. FlexBoxes are rigid, plastic-based packs with flexible silicone sealable containers, suitable for hot and cold food. They can also be microwaved (without the lid) and frozen. Kindcups are stainless steel and silicone cups for hot and cold beverages.
The company also offers a Corporate Programme, offering businesses the opportunity to cater company events and daily meetings with food and drink delivered in reusable packs. The programme includes in-office return collection points, logistics, and washing of empty packaging. barepack claims that 100,000 disposable items can be saved per office of 50 people. Current barepack corporate clients include PWC, Novartis and KPMG, all in Singapore.
barepack says its containers can be used over 500 times and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to disposables.
Since its launch, and following its acquisition by &Repeat, barepack has now expanded to Paris and Lyon. Reusable containers are available through two restaurant delivery platforms, Eatic.fr and resto.paris, in the regions.

"barepack containers can be used over 500 times and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90%, compared to disposables."

Key Design Considerations:

Rewarding behaviour change is key

As with all voluntary reuse systems, barepack relies on consumer participation to effect change. Given that using barepack requires additional effort in returning it, consider how uptake could be expanded beyond environmentally conscious consumers. It is imperative that consumers are rewarded for their engagement. A future ideal is that all delivery services and their vendors use the packaging, and returning it becomes embedded in our day-to-day activities through regular return touch points at supermarkets, train stations, and so on. Refill and reuse can be convenient if we normalise it everywhere.

Hygiene remains a concern

Covid-19 has given way to more acute hygiene concerns, fuelling an increased use of disposable, single-use items. Consider how hygiene concerns over shared containers can be alleviated through design and communication.

Scaling up

barepack is currently available only in Singapore, and through &Repeat in Lyon and Paris. To facilitate mass adoption, the system needs to be implemented at scale and in large, sprawling cities - increasing logistical issues with collection, washing and distribution of containers. Getting chain restaurants, as well as independent ones, on board, will instantly increase drop-off points, while offering a pick-up service for empty packs will enable more consumers to participate.

Designing without plastic

While they can be used many times, the barepack containers are still made from plastic. Using an alternative material, such as steel, could improve longevity of the packaging as well as their environmental impact.