Some 150 mn non-reusable trays for transporting plants are put into circulation every year in Germany alone, something the Euro Plant Tray cooperative association (EPT, Berlin; www.europlanttray.com) wants to change. The coop plans to start in German-speaking Europe and the Netherlands.

The alliance is aiming to establish a Europe-wide reusable system and pool management for plastics trays. The target is to have around 6 mn reusable trays in circulation in 2025, which is expected to save 40,000 t/y in plastics waste.

In spring 2023, testing of two different tray models is set to start in Germany and the Netherlands in DIY stores, garden centres, and wholesalers. Based on customer surveys, the EPT plans to decide in June which of the two reusable trays will be launched in January 2024 to achieve a standardised industry solution. The Euro Plant Tray will be available via wholesalers to garden centres, DIY stores, and the retail trade.

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One contender was developed by German plastics transport box and load carrier manufacturer Walther Faltsysteme (Kevelaer; www.faltbox.com). The Euro Plant Trays are made of polypropylene, are stackable, and have a stacking height of 20 mm, which means that 666 of them fit on one euro-pallet. The reusable trays should, according to the manufacturer, be able to be reused 100 times. In February 2023, the injection moulding company began producing multi-use 20,000 trays for the test phase.

In the year 2022, Walther Faltsysteme reported provisional sales of EUR 47.7 mn, a rise of nearly 2% on the previous year. With 32 injection moulding machines, the company processes PP and engineering plastics.