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Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure HR-2023-16/3148 – Updated – measures in Croatia

Kaufland is introducing a new reusable packaging system

Kaufland uvodi novi sustav depozita

Country Croatia , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 16 April 2023
Context Green Transition
Type Company practices
Category Reorientation of business activities
– Change of production/Innovation
Author Predrag Bejakovic (Faculty of Economics, Business, and Tourism (FEBT), University of Split) and Eurofound
Measure added 12 April 2023 (updated 25 September 2025)

Background information

The supermarket chain Kaufland was the first retailer in Croatia to stop the sale of lightweight plastic bags. The new rule has taken effect from 1 January 2020. Aiming to reduce plastic in the environment, Kaufland Croatia has decided to completely ban the sale of lightweight plastic bags in all of its stores in Croatia. The company is proud to be the first retail chain in Croatia that decided to do something for a cleaner and healthier environment and ban the sale of plastic bags. In addition to banning plastic bags, simultaneously, Kaufland Croatia has ceased the sale of disposable plastic utensils and cutlery, as well as plastic sticks and straws, and has replaced them with alternative sustainable solutions. Now Kaufland is introducing a new reusable packaging system in its shops.

Content of measure

The goal of the introduction of a new reusable system is to further reduce plastic waste. The company collaborates with the start-up FairCup. The system works as follows: customers can receive products such as appetizers, ground pork or cream cheese in reusable containers at the service counters. A deposit of €1.50 is required for each container, including the lid. After use, the containers can be returned to the packaging return machine. The containers can be reused up to a thousand times. After that, they can be completely recycled. In principle, Kaufland has a vision of "less plastic - a closed circle".

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

18 August 2025

The Kaufland retail chain, as part of a successful collaboration with TOMRA, has installed a new multi-feed system for collecting returnable packaging that can receive up to 100 packaging units per minute. The new TOMRA R2 is not limited to a certain batch size or number of packages inserted, but instead has continuous reception and sorting. That means that consumers can empty as many plastic bottles and cans as they want while the machine is running. They can also select the 'drop and go' function, where they empty the packaging into the R2 and go shopping, while the deposit refund - i.e., confirmation of the number of pieces of packaging received - is quickly sent to the app. As a multi-feed reverse vending machine, the TOMRA R2 is suitable for a wider range of store sizes, even for smaller spaces. It offers a compact footprint and is compatible with other TOMRA backroom solutions. The machine system features 'Design for All,' or so-called Inclusive Design, with a focus on human diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities for all. It is also adapted to people in wheelchairs, while tactile features on the machine make it easier for people with visual impairments to distinguish different surfaces. This system and its features result in more efficient returns and less waiting in line, which motivates customers to collect empty plastic bottles and protect the environment.

23 November 2024

Retail chain Kaufland develops appropriate measures to reduce packaging waste. As part of the REset Plastic strategy, the company has set the goal of reducing its plastic consumption by at least 20% by 2025 and ensuring that 100% of its packaging is recyclable to the greatest maximum possible extent. The company aims to use an average of 20% recycled material for the production of its own-brand packaging by 2025. Kaufland follows a clear approach: Sustainability must be holistic, ranging from avoiding plastic waste to product design and recycling, all the way to innovation and awareness. Only in this way can plastic waste be reduced, and the vision of meaningfully closing the recycling loop be achieved. With its 'Consciously packaged' logo, Kaufland identifies optimized packaging, such as the K-Classic sunflower oil in a PET bottle, which is made from at least 30% recycled plastic. This makes plastic reduction measures transparent with every purchase. Kaufland constantly checks opportunities to reduce the amount of plastic. The following criteria are relevant for more conscious packaging:

  • recycled content or recycling rate of at least 30% for plastics
  • recyclability of at least 80%
  • material savings of at least 20%; and
  • use of alternative materials for at least 30% of the packaging.

Use of measure

Not available.

Contents

  • Work organisation

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Does not apply to businesses Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
Company / Companies
Companies

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement as case not in social partner domain No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: Company level

Involvement

Due to the nature of the measure, social partners were not involved but they always support any measure for environment preservation.

Views and reactions

As mentioned, social partners always support any measure for environment preservation.

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      G - Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles G46 Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2023), Kaufland is introducing a new reusable packaging system , measure HR-2023-16/3148 (measures in Croatia), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/HR-2023-16_3148.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.