Jokey and circolution are testing a reusable polypropylene bucket system with German coffee roaster Kaffee Braun, aiming to show how industrial packaging can move from single-use formats to high-circulation reuse without disrupting existing production processes.

First presented at interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, the buckets are designed for repeated filling, transport, return and cleaning cycles. According to Jokey, the format can be introduced without modifying existing filling lines in many applications, lowering one of the main barriers companies face when adopting reusable industrial packaging.

Successful reuse depends not only on a durable container, but on a reliable system for collection, cleaning, storage, tracking and redistribution.

The buckets are manufactured from mono-polypropylene, supporting durability during multiple rotations while simplifying material recovery at end-of-life. Their design also focuses on hygiene and washing efficiency. The absence of a conventional handle reduces areas where residues or wash water could collect, while drainage holes integrated into the rim help prevent water from remaining inside the packaging after cleaning.

These features are particularly relevant for food producers, where reusable packaging must meet strict hygiene requirements while remaining practical for everyday operations. Kaffee Braun, a long-standing Jokey customer, is using the pilot to assess how the buckets perform in real industrial conditions, including filling, handling, transport and return.

At launch, the reusable range will be available in three formats: a 5-litre square bucket, a 5-litre round bucket and a 10-litre square version. Kaffee Braun plans to introduce the 10-litre format, providing the partners with operational data on durability, circulation frequency and compatibility with existing workflows.

Jokey describes its main objective as making reuse simple and economically accessible. This means avoiding costly line conversions and designing containers that can be stacked efficiently, cleaned consistently and returned in large quantities. For industrial users, these practical factors can determine whether a reusable format delivers real environmental and financial benefits.

Circolution is responsible for the system surrounding the packaging. Its role includes return logistics, cleaning, storage, transport, tracking and reporting. This operational layer is essential because reusable packaging only creates value when containers remain available, move predictably through the supply chain and complete enough cycles to offset their higher initial production impact.

Digital tracking is expected to support the identification of individual containers and provide visibility over inventories, locations and circulation cycles. Reliable data can help users avoid losses, maintain sufficient packaging availability and calculate environmental performance more accurately. It can also support reporting requirements as packaging regulations place greater emphasis on reuse targets and verified circulation systems.

• Mono-PP construction supports durability and recycling after the final use cycle.
• Stackable geometry improves storage and return transport efficiency.
• Handle-free design simplifies washing and reduces residue traps.
• Integrated tracking provides visibility across multiple circulation cycles.
• Line compatibility helps lower the investment required for adoption.

The project reflects a wider shift in packaging sustainability. Reuse is increasingly being treated as an operational model rather than a standalone product feature. A well-designed container can still fail if return rates are low, cleaning capacity is insufficient or users cannot locate packaging when it is needed. By combining Jokey’s packaging expertise with circolution’s logistics platform, the partners aim to address the complete system.

Industrial buckets are well suited to reuse because they are robust, standardised and frequently used in closed or semi-closed supply chains. Coffee, ingredients, food products, chemicals and other bulk goods may offer opportunities where containers can circulate repeatedly between known partners.

Other sectors are also exploring reusable bucket models. Royal FloraHolland has introduced a reusable flower bucket intended to reduce handling costs and eliminate significant quantities of cardboard, while packaging suppliers are developing barrier buckets with recycled-content liners for sensitive products.

For Kaffee Braun, the pilot will test whether reuse can become a practical part of daily production rather than a separate sustainability exercise. For the wider packaging market, it provides another example of how durable mono-material containers, return logistics and digital tracking can work together to create scalable reuse systems.

Image suggestion: stackable reusable polypropylene buckets circulating between a coffee roasting facility, cleaning centre and delivery vehicle, with digital tracking labels and coffee beans visible in the background.