Thanks to the introduction of these new machines, Luxlait can now fill and prepare 9,000 cups for sale within a single hour, a significant increase from the previous capacity of 3,000 cups.
The ceremonial inauguration of the two machines - which represented a significant investment of over €3 million - showcased their ability to not only enhance productivity but also reduce plastic consumption by 40% through the implementation of cardboard packaging.
Due to hygiene reasons, Luxlait cannot completely forego plastic. Instead, the container will now be thinner, and a cardboard cover will be added, allowing for separate recycling of the materials once the cardboard is removed.
The plastic lid, however, will remain. Following a test phase in supermarkets, Luxlait received numerous complaints, particularly regarding larger cups that are not immediately consumed. It appears that some customers are less receptive to sustainability efforts in such cases.
While the transition to glass packaging is not currently planned in the near future, Luxlait has taken this possibility into account when acquiring the new machinery.
However, challenges related to food safety arise when customers bring their own glass containers, as Gilles Gerard, the general director of Luxlait, pointed out. Nonetheless, Luxlait remains open to further exploring plastic-free alternatives in the future.
It remains to be seen whether consumers will be willing to follow the company on this path.
Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish):
