Circularity

Joining forces with Huhtamaki to improve our cups

At Żabka, we pay great attention to complying with the latest environmental requirements and meeting the evolving expectations of our customers. With this in mind, we undertook an ambitious project aimed at reducing the polyethylene content in our cups. This initiative would not have been possible without close cooperation with our supplier, Huhtamaki, a leader in the packaging market.

Our goal was not only to reduce the amount of plastic, but also to increase the recycling possibilities of used cups. These objectives are in line with European standards for eco-design and circular economy, but also with the goals we have set for ourselves as part of our Żabka Group Responsibility Strategy.

The cups available in our stores at coffee machines are made of paper covered with a layer of polyethylene, which prevents leakage. Although standard cups on the market contain from 10 to 15% polyethylene, thanks to Huhtamaki’s openness to cooperation for innovation and tests, we managed to reduce this conten below 5%. As a result, our 200 ml cup currently contains 2.62% polyethylene, and the 400 ml cup – 3.0% polyethylene.

Thanks to the reduction of polyethylene, our cups are now more friendly to recycling processes, which is crucial in the context of new regulations, but also our own goals within the Responsibility Strategy. What’s more, we managed to achieve this without compromising the quality and functionality of the product.

Our goal is constant improvement and striving for innovation, and achieving these goals in cooperation with our business partners gives us double satisfaction. We believe that thanks to such initiatives, we can actively contribute to building a better future for people and the planet.

Working together to create innovation as part of Relooped

At Żabka, we are constantly looking for innovations and technologies that will allow us to create convenient and responsible solutions. For this reason, we are delighted to have joined a broad cooperation, involving not only commercial companies, but also scientific institutions. Our common goal is to develop innovative solutions that will serve both our customers and the planet. 

As part of our commitment to the RETAIL RELOOPED project, managed by BOFA, we actively cooperate with partners from various sectors – from retail, through the waste industry, to science. We strive to create food packaging that will be not only functional but also environmentally friendly. 

This international initiative, supported by funds from the Interreg South Baltic EU program, allows us to actively work on developing new, sustainable solutions. Thanks to the involvement of waste industry institutions, the world of science, but also retail chains, such as Żabka, it is possible to test innovative circular solutions on many levels, also with the active participation of users. As a supporting partner, we will engage our customers in testing innovative packaging in selected network stores, which serve as “living labs”. 

Our commitment to the RELOOPED project not only emphasizes our innovation, but above all, it is an expression of our responsibility – one of the main values of our company. This cooperation fits into the Żabka Responsibility Strategy, specifically into pillar 04 Green Planet, which assumes active action for sustainable development. We are proud to be part of this initiative, which contributes to building a sustainable future. We believe that through cooperation with other companies and scientific institutions, we can jointly develop solutions that will be good for both our customers and the planet.