15th August 2024

Single-use food and beverage packaging is at crisis levels with the UK generating around 11 billion items of packaging waste every single year but only a meagre 9% of these being successfully recycled. Aside from the waste and plastic pollution, 1.8 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions are generated annually. While alternatives, such as compostable packaging do exist, they can take many years to decompose in landfill and can result in harmful Methane emissions being generated, compounding the pollution problem.

In 2023, CLUBZERØ was awarded funding by UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK. This funding supported CLUBZERØ to launch their study, in the form of a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report, specifically looking at food and beverage returnable packaging compared to compostable and non-compostable packaging options.

This pivotal report, conducted by environmental consultancy Giraffe Innovation Ltd, highlights astonishing results for the zero waste market. CLUBZERØ’s unwavering commitment to providing sustainable and impactful packaging solutions reveals up to 93% reduction in CO2 emissions when compared to single-use alternatives. The independent assessment reveals substantial advantages, demonstrating a remarkable reduction in waste and CO2 equivalent emissions. 

Read the Full Life Cycle Assessment here >> 

Comparative Analysis

The LCA compares CLUBZERØ’s packaging against various single-use and reusable alternatives. The beverage range is benchmarked against paper cups, EPS cups, and ceramic mugs, while the food range is compared with polypropylene containers, aluminium containers, bagasse containers, EPS clamshells, and ceramic plates.

Significant Savings

The assessment highlights significant savings when switching with CLUBZERØ using up to 93% less CO2 than single-use alternatives, greatly supporting brands to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

Overview of savings - Beverages:

• Compared to a 12oz paper, polyethylene (PE) lined coffee cup with lid CLUBZERØ will have a lower carbon footprint if it was reused at least 8 times. At 238 uses the single-use 12oz paper, polyethylene (PE) lined coffee cup with lid has a total carbon footprint ~7.5 times higher than CLUBZER0 coffee cup and lid.
• Compared to a single-use expanded polystyrene (EPS) 12oz cup, CLUBZERØ will have a lower carbon footprint if it was reused at least 7 times. At 238 uses a single use the expanded polystyrene (EPS) 12oz cup has a total carbon footprint 9.5 times higher than a CLUBZERØ coffee cup and lid. 
• Compared to a single-use PLA lined 12oz cup and lid CLUBZERØ will have a lower carbon footprint if it was reused at least 7 times. At 238 uses a single use the PLA lined 12oz cup has a total carbon footprint 9.5 times higher than CLUBZERØ coffee cup and lid. 
• A ceramic cup washed in a ‘one tank’ dishwasher has an initial higher impact than CLUBZERØ. At 238 uses a ‘one tank’ dishwasher washed cup has a total carbon footprint ~2 times higher than CLUBZERØ coffee cup and lid (1.35kgCO2eq). If it was washed in a water change dishwasher it would be ~4 times higher than CLUBZER0 coffee cup and lid.   
• The current national recycling rate of ~1% for the paper-based cups, would need to increase to ~90% and the cups made from 100% recycled paper stock in order to reduce its carbon footprint to be comparable to the CLUBZERØ coffee cup and lid.

Overview of savings - Food:

• Compared to an 800ml polypropylene (PP) container and lid, CLUBZERØ will have a lower carbon footprint if it was reused at least 4 times. At 238 uses the total carbon footprint of the polypropylene (PP) container and lid was 14 times higher than CLUBZERØ.
• Compared to a single use 800ml aluminium container with a liquid packing board lid, CLUBZERØ will have a lower carbon footprint if it was reused at least 10 times. At 238 uses the total carbon footprint of the aluminium container and lid was ~5 times higher than CLUBZERØ.
• Compared to an 800ml EPS clamshell container, CLUBZERØ will have a lower carbon footprint if it was reused at least 6 times. At 238 uses the total carbon footprint of the EPS clamshell was ~9 times higher than CLUBZERØ.
• Compared to an 800ml bagasse container and lid, CLUBZERØ will have a lower carbon footprint if it was reused at least 23 times. At 238 uses the carbon footprint of the bagasse container and lid was ~2.7 times higher than CLUBZERØ.
• A ceramic plate washed in a ‘one tank’ dishwasher and a ‘water change’ dishwasher has an initial higher impact than CLUBZERØ. At 238 uses the water change dishwasher was higher than CLUBZERØ. At 238 uses the total carbon footprint of the ceramic plate washed in a water change dishwasher was ~1.4 times higher than CLUBZERØ.

Read the Full Life Cycle Assessment here >> 

This report highlights CLUBZERØ’s dedication to providing a meaningful and sustainable alternative to single-use packaging. By adopting CLUBZERØ’s reusable and returnable packaging solutions, businesses can significantly reduce waste and advance their environmental objectives.

Our technology offers extensive lifecycle benefits across the entire supply chain, making it a valuable asset for companies aiming to enhance their sustainability efforts. As pressures mount from customers, regulators, investors, NGOs, and other stakeholders for greater transparency and traceability in environmental and ethical practices, CLUBZERØ’s solutions stand out.

Partnering with CLUBZERØ not only bolsters your ‘green’ credentials but also helps your organisation meet rigorous public sector tender requirements. By leveraging our technology, you gain a competitive edge, elevate your market value, and align with the evolving demands of sustainability.