More staff, clearer signs and a better defined area made a real difference. This year, food served in Bältesspännarparken was almost completely free from single-use items, and waste was significantly lower than last year.

-After several years of testing, we believe we’ve found a model that can be used on a larger scale. It’s not perfect yet, but we know what needs to be done to achieve even better results next time, says Filip Eklund, Sustainability Developer at Göteborg & Co.

The project was carried out in collaboration with the Street Food Festival and the organisation Light My Fire Borrow. During the three days of the festival, over 13,000 portions of food and nearly 800 drinks were served on reusable plates and cups in Bältesspännarparken. Staffed return stations were placed around the area where visitors could return their plates and cups after their meals. Everything was washed on site and reused — on average three times during the festival. Thanks to the project, 14,130 single-use items were avoided.

-Above all, it’s great to see that visitors appreciate our efforts. It makes the experience better for everyone — a real win-win, says Filip Eklund.

Fewer lost cups and plates

When the Single-use-free initiative was tested during the 2024 festival, many plates and cups went missing. This year, the setup was improved. More staff were on site, signage was clearer, and the area was smaller and easier to manage. The results spoke for themselves: only 2 percent of the plates and 5 percent of the cups went missing – a significant improvement compared to 16 percent the previous year.

– It’s not unthinkable to add another step to further reduce losses. In Germany, for instance, it’s common to have systems where visitors receive a kind of deposit refund when returning reusable items,” says Filip Eklund.

Higher standards for city events

This year’s project showed that the method works in practice. But to create real and lasting impact, more events need to join in.

-We need to work together on this. We have legislation, experience and knowledge to build on — but Gothenburg may also need to set clearer requirements when granting the use of city spaces to organisers. It’s likely only when more join in that the transition towards single-use-free events can really gain momentum, says Filip Eklund.