Online food delivery company Deliveroo has joined forces with reusable packaging startup Returnr and eco-friendly packaging company BioPak to replace single-use takeaway packaging with reusable, sustainable solutions.

Deliveroo said the partnership is part of its commitment to driving greater sustainability.

Managed through an existing network of restaurants, its goal is to minimise waste and resources by encouraging consumers to return and reuse packaging.

The delivery firm’s partnership with Returnr allows them to offer customers custom-designed reusable stainless steel bowls for delivery orders and with BioPak, to sell compostable packaging solutions in its packaging store for restaurants.

Joanne Woo, head of Corporate Affairs at Deliveroo Australia, said when it comes to sustainability they want to lead and not follow.

“We have the opportunity now to make a difference, which is why we have partnered with Returnr and BioPak,” Woo said.

In Melbourne, Deliveroo has launched this partnership through a select number of restaurants.

Local customers can now enjoy waste-free dining delivered to their door from a range of local food providers such as Nosh, Crisp, Belles Hot Chicken, Bowls Baby and Hanoi Hannah. If this is successful, Deliveroo will look into rolling this out to other cities.

For meals to be delivered in a reusable stainless-steel bowl, customers can choose to add Returnr to their Deliveroo order and a refundable deposit of $6 is applied at the checkout. Customers can return rinsed bowls, at any time, to a participating Returnr location and receive their full deposit back.

“Australians throw away over 1.9 million tonnes of packaging each year, enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground nine times over,” said Returnr founder Jamie Forsyth.

“Single-use packaging is killing our planet, that’s why we’ve created Returnr to give a sustainable alternative to eliminate single-use packaging.”