Reusable cup system at a Messe Düsseldorf event based on ReOil chemically recycled feedstock from OMV – Borealis
K Fair 2025, the World’s No.1 Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber, is a pilot for scalable cup reuse systems for global exhibitions.
Messe Düsseldorf is dedicated to decreasing waste at large-scale events. At K 2025, the world’s guiding international trade fair for plastics and rubber, it will introduce reusable cups to establish a sustainable solution that can be scaled for future events. Borealis supports this initiative by providing high-performance modified foamable polypropylene (PP) suited explicitly to reusable and recyclable cup applications.
Using chemically recycled feedstock based on OMV’s ReOil technology is an additional sustainability advantage. This initiative is a significant step towards reducing single-use packaging at global exhibitions, which aligns with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) objectives.
“ReOil is our proprietary chemical recycling technology that converts end-of-life plastics into circular feedstock for the production of chemicals, particularly new plastics,” says Maximilian Grasserbauer, OMV Senior Vice President of Circular Economy. We operate ReOil at our Schwechat refinery close to Vienna, Austria, and are continuously investing in advancing this technology to ensure a reliable supply of circular feedstock for the market. ReOil® is part of our sustainable base chemicals portfolio, designed to support our industry’s shift toward circular feedstocks.”
Beyond reusability and recycled content, the cups contribute to the circular economy in multiple ways: they are lightweight and material-efficient, have a reduced carbon footprint, and are fully recyclable.
“At Borealis, we are dedicated to developing innovative solutions in collaboration with our value chain partners, and this initiative is a prime example,” says Peter Voortmans, Borealis Vice President of Marketing Consumer Products. “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.”
The cups will be deposit-free at all restaurants and bars across the site during the K Fair. Messe Düsseldorf will install special collection containers to support reuse. Visitors can return the cups to service points, place them in the collection containers, or take them home for personal reuse.
Logistics staff will ensure that cups left on tables or placed in the collection containers are retrieved, rinsed in on-site kitchens, and returned to service. Any cups disposed of in general waste bins will be collected after the fair and recycled by Borealis. Unused cups will be donated for further use.
Thomas Franken, K Director, Portfolio Plastics and Rubber, Messe Düsseldorf, explains the motivation behind the initiative: “Introducing reusable cups to replace single-use cups at K 2025 aligns perfectly with our motto, ‘The Power of Plastics! Green – Smart – Responsible.’ As the global forum shaping the future of plastics, K 2025 provides the ideal platform to highlight practical initiatives reflecting the industry’s commitment to sustainability, while supporting Messe Düsseldorf’s own sustainability goals.”
