Plastic waste in the environment is becoming an increasing burden on the world's ecosystems and, paradoxically, the production and use of plastics in packaging is still growing. On the positive side, awareness of environmental and climate protection is rising significantly and the problem of plastic packaging - which is introduced into the world's oceans as macro-plastic and micro-plastic - is increasingly attracting the attention of consumers and politicians. The public discussion in Germany has so far focused primarily on consumer options for action and has thus made daily consumer decisions increasingly complex: Packaged? Unpacked? Bio-plastic?

Packaging research, which has until now focused predominantly on technical innovations, was one reason for this increase in complexity. However, issues that dealt with the reduction of packaging volumes along the various stages of the value chain or the opportunities for retailers to become active themselves received far less attention.

At the same time, initiatives and business models have developed in the retail sector to reduce the use of plastics and avoid packaging as a whole. These examples clearly show that also companies have increasingly recognized the need to reduce the use of plastic packaging. This is exactly where Innoredux comes in: the research project aims to explore the scope for action of companies and to collaboratively develop and implement suitable business model and packaging innovations.

Emphasis is also placed on social and organisational innovations such as new sales, purchasing and usage patterns for products. The aim is to reduce plastic inputs in the environment and at the same time to highlight the innovative strength of the industry partners. In addition, the project investigates which incentives and possibilities of support can be introduced by municipalities and the German government for the sustainable transformation of business models.