At K 2025, Messe Düsseldorf will launch a pioneering reuse initiative that could pave the way for sustainable beverage container systems at major international exhibitions. In partnership with Borealis and OMV, the venue will deploy a comprehensive reusable cup system across all restaurants and bars during the event, marking a first for the exhibition centre.
he cups are made using a modified foamable polypropylene supplied by Borealis, produced from chemically recycled feedstock via OMV’s ReOil technology. This aligns with both Messe Düsseldorf’s sustainability objectives and the EU’s proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which aims to reduce reliance on single-use formats.
Thomas Franken, director of K at Messe Düsseldorf, said the initiative reflects the show’s theme “The Power of Plastics! Green – Smart – Responsible,” and underscores the trade fair’s role in demonstrating real-world solutions that support sustainability goals.
The deposit-free cups will be collected via dedicated containers throughout the venue. They will be rinsed and returned to circulation on-site, while any cups placed in general waste bins will be recovered post-show for recycling. Unused cups will be donated for continued use.
Beyond enabling reuse, the cups are lightweight, durable, and fully recyclable – delivering both material and carbon savings. Supporting partners in the project include Arburg (injection moulding machinery), Bockatech (EcoCore foaming technology), MCC Global IML (in-mould labelling), and Miko Pac (packaging production).
Peter Voortmans, VP Marketing Consumer Products at Borealis, highlighted the value of partnerships: “Reuse systems are key to making large-scale events more sustainable, and our polypropylene solutions for foam support this by enabling lightweight, durable, and fully recyclable applications that use less material than conventional alternatives.”
OMV’s Maximilian Grasserbauer, SVP Circular Economy, noted that ReOil is part of the company’s strategy to deliver circular feedstocks that meet industry demand for sustainable base chemicals.
The K 2025 pilot will generate data on cup usage, return and recycling rates, providing key insights for future scalable reuse systems at global events.
