Start des Interreg-Projekts „INTERPOOL“

It’s official! EU-funded Interreg project, named “INTERPOOL”, starts: Thinking reusable glass at a European scale – together

The goal is to make existing and new reusable systems more compatible across Europe and to remove key technical, logistical, and regulatory barriers. With this cross-border project, INTERPOOL, we will break bottlenecks instead of bottles.

Over the coming years, we will:

• Map existing systems in NL, BE, FR, and DE
• Identify technical, logistical, and policy bottlenecks
• Determine what’s needed to make systems work across borders
• Learn from real-world experiences of retailers, fillers, logistics partners, and innovators
• Deliver a shared strategy and action plan for reusable glass packaging across Europe

The Mehrwegverband Deutschland e.V. is part of an international alliance of 14 partners, initiated by Fair Resource Foundation and Enviu, across Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. This project is funded by the EU under Interreg NWE for 3.5 years until the end of June 2029.

Reusable glass is one of the most promising pathways to reach the ambitions of the EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), but only if systems work across borders. INTERPOOL offers a historic opportunity to harmonise solutions, strengthen European collaboration, and accelerate industry-wide transition to reuse.

We are proud, excited, and ready to get started as part of this first, strong European consortium! Follow us if you want to stay updated about the impact we will make, starting with the project kick-off in March.

INTERPOOL-Project partners

• Fair Resource Foundation (Lead) (NL)
• Enviu (NL)
• Provincie Zuid-Holland (NL)
• Verpact / Kennisinstituut Duurzaam Verpakken (KIDV) (NL)
• Citeo (FR)
• Réseau Vrac et Réemploi (FR)
• Genossenschaft Deutscher Brunnen eG (GDB) (DE)
• Pro Mehrweg (DE)
• Fost Plus (BE)
• Universiteit Antwerpen – REuseLab (BE)
• Mission Zero Academy (BE / EU)
• New ERA – New European Reuse Alliance (BE / EU)
• Zero Waste Europe (BE / EU)

Following associated partners already confirmed to support us with their knowledge and network:

• Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat
• OVAM
• ACR+ | Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management
• Fevia, the federation of the Belgian food companies
• Valorlux asbl
• Valipac
• Comeos
• Wageningen University & Research
• Léko
• Umweltbundesamt
• Deutsche Umwelthilfe
• GS1 Belgium & Luxembourg
• ConsomAction
• Stichting Hergebruik Nu

A big thank you to all the market actors who provided the input that formed the basis of this application. Thanks to Bureau BUITEN, Het Subsidiehuis, Esther Veenendaal at Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) for the support. Thanks to all (associated) partners and colleagues that made this application possible!