OTTAWA — Re-use Ottawa, a pilot program launching during Circular Economy Month, is set to transform the foodservice industry by offering re-usable packaging options. Participating locations in Ottawa, including restaurants and grocery stores, will be able to provide re-usable containers to customers at no cost.
Circular Innovation Council leads this pilot in partnership with major Canadian grocery retailers Metro, Sobeys Inc. /Farm Boy and Walmart Canada, and service providers Reusables.com, Gate Gourmet, Snelling and Bunzl Canada Inc. The Government of Canada and the City of Ottawa also collaborated on the pilot design and provided seed funding underscoring their commitment to eliminating plastic waste.
“The uniqueness of this program starts with the consortium of partners who participated in the co-design of this shared system tackling the costs and logistics barriers that prevent the transition from single-use packaging to scaled re-use,” says Jo-Anne St. Godard, executive director of the Circular Innovation Council. “Knowing convenience is the other key factor to making re-use successful, offering it free, making it accessible and rewarding to Ottawa shoppers are key elements to this program.”
Launching initially along Bank Street in Ottawa, this pilot program will include any interested grocer, restaurant, or foodservice business. Participating locations will offer re-usable containers for various food items, and will have access to container tracking, washing, and distribution services provided as part of the pilot.
Consumers can easily track their re-usable containers using the program app or receive updates to their phone number, and the containers are free of charge if they’re returned within 14 days. Convenient collection bins will be located at participating businesses and other high-traffic areas throughout Ottawa. Consumers will also be eligible for discounts and incentives when choosing and returning their re-use containers.
Reuse Ottawa will showcase scalable solutions to single-use plastics and demonstrate the viability and benefits of re-usable containers through collaborative efforts. Participants will share containers, sanitation, and logistics costs, creating a co-operative resource model.
