Success Story

NORDSEE

Together for more sustainability in restaurant chains: NORDSEE guests use our deposit-free solution easily and cashless via smartphone.

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Reusable as the new standard for restaurant chains

The principle: Guests borrow the reusable packaging containers free of charge and cashless via smartphone. Partner restaurants pay fairly per use in a pay-per-use model. This way, NORDSEE already saves many unnecessary single-use packaging items. It proves that sustainable solutions in restaurant chains are not only possible, but also economically viable and practical.

The challenges

In restaurant chains, especially for take-away offerings, integrating sustainability into daily operations is often challenging. Even at NORDSEE, Europe’s leading provider of fish specialties, the question arose: How can the high consumption of single-use packaging be effectively reduced without complicating processes or losing customers?

The solution

In 2023, NORDSEE entered the collaboration with Relevo with a clear goal: a deposit-free, digital reusable solution that integrates seamlessly into the operations of 222 branches. Only NORDSEE locations at motorway service areas were excluded.

Our pay-per-use model offers a flexible solution. Restaurant chains pay only for the reusable containers actually used. Guests can borrow the containers easily, free of charge and cashless via their smartphone.

“With the nationwide rollout of Relevo’s reusable system, we can make an additional contribution to sustainability in restaurant chains. The smooth implementation of reusable solutions and the positive feedback from our guests show that this is the right path to embed sustainability into restaurant chains and make a real impact. It is now crucial that we consistently stick to this strategy and work together to achieve higher reusable usage.”

- NORDSEE CEO Kai Bordel

The Results

Nationwide rollout in all NORDSEE branches in Germany
Guest acceptance and positive feedback
A strong signal: Reusable solutions are practical and feasible in restaurant chains

Aaron Sperl, co-founder of Relevo, emphasizes: “We are very pleased with the successful collaboration with NORDSEE. We know that reusable solutions still do not enjoy widespread acceptance in Germany despite the law. That’s why the implementation of Relevo’s reusable system at NORDSEE sends an important signal for more sustainability in the restaurant chain and take-away sector. We hope that more companies will follow this example. However, it is equally important that guests actively request and use reusable options. Simply offering them does not automatically reduce single-use packaging.”