Austrian Post Tests “Green Packaging”
In the “Grüne Verpackung” (green packaging) pilot project, the Austrian Post Office is researching reusable and sustainable packaging solutions for parcel shipping. The drugstore chain dm and other retailers are participating.
Together with the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences and five retail companies, the Austrian Post Office has presented the “Green Packaging” project: a pilot project for reusable and sustainable shipping packaging for online retail. The reusable packaging is expected to “survive” up to 100 shipping cycles.
Tchibo and Thalia join the test
In the six-month packaging test, selected products from dm, Intersport, Tchibo and Thalia will be shipped in reusable packaging with immediate effect; Interspar weinwelt will start later in the spring. Recipients remove the products, fold up the packaging and return the packaging to the respective retail companies via mailboxes, post offices or self-service postal zones.
Packaging from dm, Thalia, and Tchibo can also be returned to the companies’ respective branch locations. After being returned, the packaging is cleaned and sent out again. Four packages are used in the test, which are made from renewable raw materials or recycled PET and reach the ecological break-even point after a few cycles compared to conventional disposable cartons, the Austrian Post Office says.
