Belgium has launched a major reusable packaging trial for fresh mushrooms, bringing together leading retailers and using GS1 QR code technology to manage traceability across a shared circular system. The pilot includes Albert Heijn, Aldi, Carrefour, Colruyt, Delhaize and Lidl, marking an important step toward reducing single-use plastic packaging in the fresh produce aisle.

The project, known as REPASYS, is being tested in Mechelen with support from Fost Plus. It is designed to evaluate whether reusable trays can work at scale in a complex multi-retailer environment. The timing is highly relevant, as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is pushing companies to rethink single-use formats, improve circularity and prepare for stricter packaging requirements.

The most important feature of the pilot is its open-loop model. Consumers can buy mushrooms in a reusable tray from one participating retailer and return the empty tray to another participating store. This reduces friction for shoppers and makes reuse more convenient, because the system does not depend on customers returning packaging to the exact same retailer.

A reusable packaging system only works at scale when packaging can be identified, tracked, cleaned, returned and redeployed with confidence.

At the centre of the trial is a GS1-standardised QR code using GS1 Digital Link. Unlike a traditional barcode that usually identifies a product type, the QR code gives each tray its own unique digital identity. This turns the tray into a traceable asset that can be monitored throughout its life cycle, from filling and retail display to consumer return, washing and reuse.

This digital layer is essential for operational control. The system can help track return rates, circulation speed, losses, and the number of washing cycles each tray has completed. These data points will allow the coalition to understand whether the reusable model is practical, cost-effective and safe for fresh food applications.

• Traceability allows each tray to be followed through the reuse cycle.
• Deposit management supports consumer participation and return behaviour.
• Industrial washing helps maintain hygiene and food safety standards.
• Standardisation reduces complexity across multiple retail chains.

The consumer experience is also part of the design. By scanning the QR code, shoppers can access information about the mushrooms, the sustainability profile of the tray and instructions for recovering the €0.30 deposit. This makes the packaging not only reusable, but also interactive and informative.

Food safety remains a critical requirement. Reusable trays for fresh produce must be cleaned and inspected before returning to the supply chain. The digital identity helps ensure that trays pass through specialised industrial cleaning facilities before being refilled by local growers. For fresh mushrooms, where hygiene, moisture control and handling are important, this level of control is essential.

The collaboration between competing retailers is one of the most significant aspects of the pilot. Reuse systems are difficult to scale when every brand or retailer uses its own packaging format. By adopting a uniform tray across six retail chains, the project reduces the need for separate logistics, cleaning systems and specialised equipment. This standardisation could make reuse more commercially realistic.

The pilot also shows how reusable packaging depends on data as much as material design. A durable tray is not enough on its own. The system must know where the tray is, how often it is used, when it needs cleaning, and whether consumers are returning it. QR code infrastructure gives retailers visibility into packaging flows that are normally difficult to measure.

For brands and retailers preparing for PPWR compliance, the Belgian trial offers a practical example of how digital standards can support circular packaging models. It combines reuse, deposits, consumer information, food safety and cross-retailer cooperation in one system. If successful, the model could influence future reusable packaging schemes for other fresh produce categories.

The six-month trial in Mechelen will be closely watched because it addresses one of the biggest questions in sustainable packaging: can reuse move beyond closed pilots and work in everyday retail? The answer will depend on return rates, cleaning efficiency, consumer acceptance, cost, loss rates and the ability of all partners to keep the system simple.

The REPASYS project demonstrates that the future of reusable packaging will require both physical infrastructure and digital intelligence. Trays, washing systems and deposit points are necessary, but QR-based traceability may be what allows the model to scale across retailers, suppliers and consumers in a truly circular packaging network.