Smart Retur is the newest member of Europe’s leading circular economy advocacy group, Reusable Packaging Europe (RPE). The group welcomed the company, its first Nordic member, to its eight-company membership. Oslo-based Smart Retur, a Scandinavian market leader, brings its commitment to sustainable practices and circular economy development to RPE. The collaboration aims to develop Europe-wide solutions for reusable packaging, driving innovation, waste reduction, and the widespread adoption of reusable packaging across industries.
RPE Chairman Mike Pooley welcomed Smart Retur, emphasizing it as the association’s first Nordic member. Smart Retur’s expertise in reverse logistics, technology, and sustainability will enhance efforts to develop efficient and sustainable packaging solutions across Europe and the Nordic region.
“I am delighted to welcome a visionary company like Smart Retur to our table here in Brussels,” Pooley stated.
RPE represents the interests of companies active in reusable transport packaging systems, primarily Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) and Reusable Wooden Pallets (RWPs), towards the European Union. RPE advocates for the promotion of reusable packaging as a circular service. Current members include Euro Pool Group, Brambles, IFCO, Tosca, Faber Group, LogiFruit, Container Centralen, and WBG Pooling.
Søren Eriksen, Founder and Executive Chairman of Smart Retur, is excited about collaborating with industry leaders. “We think we are pretty good at what we do, but let’s face it, we all need inspiration, listen to other dedicated professionals and experience first-hand best practices from bigger markets and more mature players,” said Eriksen. Smart Retur also aims to address issues such as pallet use in Scandinavia, an import market, as it continues to invest in reusable plastic pallets.
The joint ambition of RPE and Smart Retur is to elevate reusable packaging on the political agenda as a proven sustainability measure. They aim to establish predictable frameworks, healthier regulations, and transparent conditions for reverse logistics providers across the continent. Eriksen concludes that despite significant progress in 15 years, much work still needs to be done.
Smart Retur
Smart Retur is the market leader in reverse logistics in the Nordics. It provides sustainable solutions for collecting, sorting, repairing, warehousing, and recycling various packaging assets with a proprietary digital “banking” solution. Focusing on digital innovation and sustainability, Smart Retur helps Nordic businesses reduce waste, increase profitability and minimize their environmental footprint.
Reuse Packaging Europe
Reuse Packaging Europe is the foremost European industry and lobby group promoting reusable packaging solutions. Based in Brussels, the organization advocates for policies that support the use of reusable packaging across various industries, aiming to create a truly circular economy that benefits both businesses and the environment.
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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.
