Reusable transport packaging provider Bakers Basco is calling for greater accountability across the UK events sector after recovering more than 20,000 reusable bakery assets from festivals, markets, caterers, and outdoor event locations during the 2025 season.
The organization, which operates a shared pool of reusable bread baskets and dollies for leading UK bakeries, said the annual losses continue to undermine both the economics and sustainability benefits of reusable transport packaging systems.
According to Bakers Basco, a total of 18,438 baskets and 1,690 dollies were recovered from event-related locations over the past year. The largest concentrations came from markets and wholesale markets, accounting for approximately 8,700 recovered items, followed by caterers with roughly 4,300 items recovered.
Additional recoveries were linked to major UK outdoor events, including Glastonbury and horse racing venues.
Reusable Assets Diverted from Circular Use
Bakers Basco emphasized that its reusable baskets and dollies are designed for long-term circulation within bakery supply chains rather than temporary or disposable use.
The organization noted that during peak outdoor event season, equipment is frequently removed from the intended supply chain and repurposed by traders and caterers for food display, temporary storage, or transportation. In some instances, the equipment is ultimately discarded.
“Each of these baskets and dollies is built to last for years and complete hundreds of trips within the supply chain,” said Stacey Brown, National Investigations Manager at Bakers Basco. “When they’re taken out of circulation or, worse, sent to landfill, it creates unnecessary waste and forces the production of replacement equipment. That has a direct environmental and financial cost.”
The issue highlights one of the recurring operational challenges facing reusable transport packaging systems: maintaining asset visibility and recovery once equipment moves beyond tightly controlled supply chain environments.
Event Season Continues to Drive Asset Losses
Bakers Basco said the problem persists despite ongoing awareness campaigns and free collection services for misplaced equipment.
The organization reported recovering 687 items associated with Glastonbury-related locations and another 412 items linked to horse racing events. More than 578 additional items were recovered from other outdoor event sites.
The company is encouraging event organizers, suppliers, traders, wholesalers, and caterers to report misplaced equipment and avoid using bakery assets outside their intended circular system.
“These items are not disposable and they’re not designed for general use,” Brown said. “They play a vital role in a circular economy and keeping them in that system is key to reducing waste.”
Circular Economy Challenges Extend Beyond Packaging Design
The situation also underscores a broader issue within reusable packaging systems. Designing durable, reusable assets is only one part of a successful circular economy strategy. Recovery infrastructure, user education, reverse logistics, and asset accountability all play important roles in ensuring reusable packaging completes its intended lifecycle.
Losses at outdoor events and temporary venues can create hidden replacement costs and reduce the environmental benefits associated with reuse systems.
As the 2026 UK events season ramps up, Bakers Basco said it hopes increased awareness throughout the events supply chain will help reduce future losses and keep reusable bakery transport packaging in active circulation.
Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
