— By Plasteurope.com staff — 

Reusable cups made from materials developed by Austrian polyolefin group Borealis (Vienna; www.borealisgroup.com) and its compatriot OMV (Vienna; www.omv.com) are expected be available for the first time at this year’s K 2025 trade fair – taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 8 to 15 October.

The containers, which are set to be used across the K show’s 15-plus restaurants and bars, have been made from Borealis’s modified polypropylene for foam produced using a chemically recycled feedstock based on OMV’s ReOil technology.

Borealis said it would be the first time the K event has used a comprehensive reusable cup system. This marks “a significant step towards reducing waste from single-use cups at large-scale events”, the firm added.

Related: K 2025 to throw spotlight on industry transformation with special show

The pilot initiative will assess reuse and recycling rates, “providing valuable insights for the effective implementation of scalable reuse systems” at similar shows in the future, it added.

The use of chemically recycled feedstock will help the drive towards reducing single-use packaging at global exhibitions, “aligning with the objectives of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation”, Borealis said.

The cups are expected to be available deposit-free, and to support reuse, Messe Düsseldorf is to install special collection containers. Visitors to the show can return the cups to service points, place them in the collection containers, or take them home for personal reuse.

The most recent K event, in 2022, featured more than 3,000 exhibitors from 59 countries. The 2022 show recorded 177,486 trade visitors, of which 71% came from overseas.

Plasteurope.com and its parent company, KI Group, will also be present at the event – come say hello to us in Hall 06, Stand 6C28!