Choose to Reuse - Reusable Packaging Programme

The 'Choose to Reuse - Reusable Packaging Programme' ended in December 2024. Thank you for your support.

Please contact sustainability@foodpanda.hk if you are a corporation interested in exploring sustainability projects with foodpanda.

Reusable Packaging Pilot

We are taking action to combat the single-use plastic waste crisis by initiating Hong Kong’s first ever Reusable Food Packaging Pilot in 2022! By offering a closed loop takeaway experience to our customers, we hope to drive the food delivery industry towards a greener business model. This pilot was launched in September 2022 in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong.

As part of the pilot, foodpanda customers can order reusable containers at specific restaurant partners located in Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay. They simply have to select food items from the restaurants’ ‘Reusable Packaging’ menu category and the items will be packaged in reusable containers for delivery or self-pick up.

After finishing their meal, customers have to empty all leftover food from their containers and return them to our collection machines. Customers will be able to retrieve the initial deposit they paid via Octopus on the machine, as well as a $15 foodpanda e-voucher for every container returned. The pilot scheme has ended in December 2024. Thank you for your support. Reusable Containers are still available for corporate catering services. Please contact us for more information.

Reusable Container Lending

Companies interested in offering reusable container lending services for their employees can contact our sustainability team at sustainability@foodpanda.hk to discuss. foodpanda is able to provide reusable containers for your staff’s use, as well as handle container delivery and cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is reusable packaging? How does it help the environment?

Reusable packaging are containers designed for reuse. According to a report by ADM Capital Foundation, it is estimated that Hong Kong could prevent 2.89 billion pieces of single-use plastic from going to landfills if everyone used reusable containers for takeout.

How do you ensure the containers are clean?

Our containers are washed by our cleaning partner, gategroup Solutions, an airline caterer. All containers are cleaned using airport facilities according to gategroup Solutions’s global food safety standard and World Food Safety guidelines, an international standard. Dishwasher sanitisation is an Operational Prerequisite Program (OPRP) critical to gategroup Solutions’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan.
Cleaned containers will be redistributed back to restaurants in tight-seal, disinfected storage boxes.

How frequently are containers collected from the machines?

Containers are collected daily from all collection machines.

How do I find restaurants offer reusable packaging?

Restaurants that offer reusable packaging can be found in 3 ways:

1. By clicking on the Reusable Packaging Pilot campaign poster at the top of the restaurant listing page
2. By using the restaurant filter and selecting “Reusable Boxes” restaurants only
3. By scrolling through the Reusable Packaging Pilot Swim Lane (available only one month after launch)

Restaurants offering reusable packaging will have a special “Reusable Packaging” section on their menu. Food ordered from this section will come with reusable containers.

Which areas can I order reusable containers from?

Restaurants that offer reusable containers are located within foodpanda’s Causeway Bay and Central delivery zones. This spans from some areas of North Point to the east of Sai Ying Pun. If you are not located in these areas, you will not be able to order reusable containers.

I ordered a reusable container, but my meal didn’t come in one!

The restaurant you were ordering from may have temporarily run out of reusable containers. Please fill out the customer support form and tell us the restaurant’s name for us to follow-up.

Why doesn’t the machine accept my reusable container?

Please ensure that the reusable container is empty and the QR code sticker is undamaged. If the issue persists, please fill out the customer support form.

Where can I use my foodpanda vouchers earned from returning reusable containers?

You will be able to use foodpanda vouchers received from returning the containers only on restaurants participating in the pilot.

Why wasn’t I awarded a foodpanda voucher even though I returned the container?

If you canceled your order but still received containers, vouchers will not be awarded.

How can I use my foodpanda vouchers?

i. The $15 voucher is valid on any purchase of HK$150 or above (excluding delivery fee) in foodpanda restaurants that offer reusable packaging only.
ii. The $30 voucher is valid on any purchase of HK$200 or above (excluding delivery fee) in foodpanda restaurants that offer reusable packaging only.
iii. The $45 voucher is valid on any purchase of HK$250 or above (excluding delivery fee) in foodpanda restaurants that offer reusable packaging only.
iv. Voucher is valid within 30 days upon receiving, and cannot be reissued once it expires.
v. Voucher is first-come-first-served, while stocks last. vi. Vouchers can only be redeemed once in foodpanda restaurants. The voucher is non-exchangeable for cash or other products.
vii. A maximum amount of $200 worth of vouchers will be issued to a customer per day.
viii. In case of any disputes, foodpanda reserves the right to make the final decision. Terms and Conditions apply.

Can I get a rider to collect my containers if I am willing to forfeit my deposit and voucher?

Yes! Please present your empty containers to the courier at your next order delivery. Note that couriers are allowed to not accept your containers - should this be the case, please try again with another order's courier. By giving your containers to a courier, you are agreeing to give your deposit and voucher to them instead.

I'm a corporate that wants to offer reusables for an event or catering. Are you able to arrange this?

Yes, we are able to offer reusables to corporations as well. We are able to offer a container collection service after your meal so they do not need to be returned to a machine. Please contact us at sustainability@foodpanda.hk for arrangement.

For all other queries, please fill out our feedback form below!