Reuse Ottawa: new program pioneers sustainable food packaging solutions for grocery stores and restaurants.
In a groundbreaking initiative, Reuse Ottawa is launching a pilot program to transform food packaging by offering reusable containers at no cost to consumers. The program, introduced during Circular Economy Month, aims to reduce plastic waste across the food service industry in Ottawa. Local grocery stores and restaurants will be able to provide customers with reusable packaging, making sustainable choices more accessible and practical.
Led by the Circular Innovation Council, the pilot is backed by major grocery retailers like Metro, Sobeys Inc. / Farm Boy, and Walmart Canada, along with service providers such as Reusables.com, Gate Gourmet, and Bunzl Canada Inc. The project also benefits from seed funding and design collaboration from both the Government of Canada and the City of Ottawa, highlighting a joint public-private commitment to combat plastic waste.
The reusable containers will be available at participating locations on Bank Street, including any interested grocer, restaurant, or food service business. Consumers can track their containers through a program app or receive updates via text. If containers are returned within 14 days, they remain free of charge, with drop-off bins placed throughout high-traffic areas for added convenience. Incentives like discounts will encourage participation.
Jo-Anne St. Godard, Executive Director of the Circular Innovation Council, emphasized the uniqueness of the program’s design: “The consortium of partners tackling the cost and logistics barriers that prevent the transition from single-use packaging to scaled reuse makes this program special. Offering reuse options free of charge and accessible to shoppers are key elements to its success.”
Reuse Ottawa: Creating a Scalable Solution
By providing a shared system for container tracking, washing, and logistics, Reuse Ottawa creates a scalable solution that businesses can share, reducing costs and improving efficiency. The program also sets a precedent for future large-scale reuse initiatives across Canada, promoting a shift from single-use plastics.
Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa, expressed his support: “This innovative pilot creates a practical solution that benefits both consumers and the environment. By making reusable containers accessible and free, we are encouraging more sustainable choices that help create a cleaner, greener future for our community.”
Private sector partners echoed this sentiment, with Joe Fusco, Senior VP at Metro, noting, “This innovative pilot allows us to offer our customers a reusable solution that aligns with our corporate objective to reduce single-use plastics.”
As part of the initiative, businesses and consumers alike are set to benefit from a more circular economy that reduces waste and showcases the power of collaboration. Jason Hawkins of Reusables.com added, “We’re excited to bring a tangible solution for scalable plastic waste reduction, creating a blueprint for cities around the world.”
With leadership from key Canadian grocery retailers and solid public sector backing, Reuse Ottawa sets the stage for a new, sustainable approach to food packaging that could inspire similar efforts nationwide.
“gategourmet is incredibly proud to support Reuse Ottawa and its partners on this pilot project,” said Tim de Wit, Head of Global Business Development Catering Solutions at gategourmet. “The pilot is aligned with our companies’ strategic initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of our operations. We believe strongly in supporting the circular economy – where our affiliate company deSter produces the packaging, our production kitchen uses the packaging, and then it is washed and repurposed. Indeed, deSter has received the platinum Ecovadis for exactly this type of lifecycle.”
Source: Reuse Ottawa
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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.
