From coffee breaks to catered meals, events produce huge amounts of single-use waste. Polygreen’s Again, Please, introduced this week at the World Future Energy Summit, offers a practical solution: reusable foodware that makes sustainability part of large gatherings.

Again, Please is a reverse logistics reusable foodware packaging solution designed for events, exhibitions, entertainment venues, and F&B operators.  

A system rather than a foodware 

The system goes beyond cups, offering tailored reusable packaging formats supported by end-to-end infrastructure, including collection points, logistics, industrial washing, and redeployment, ensuring hygiene, convenience, and operational efficiency.  

A key component of the system is the wash hub located in the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi. The facility enables high-volume, food-grade washing and rapid turnaround, ensuring reusable packaging is safely returned to circulation. 

Athanasios Polychronopoulos, Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer at Polygreen, said: “The UAE has taken decisive steps to address plastic waste through regulation and policy. Again, Please demonstrates how policy, infrastructure, and proven reusable packaging solutions which support behavioural change can work together. By replacing single-use cups with a practical, scalable reuse model, we are helping business partners move from intention to direct impact.”  

“Our goal with Again, Please is to make reuse simple, accessible, and commercially viable. By providing the full infrastructure behind the scenes, from washing and logistics to on-ground deployment, we enable HoReCa operators and venues to move away from single-use foodware while elevating their customer experience”, said Theodossios Kassapantoniou, General Manager of Again, Please. 

Speaking to the R. Keerthana, Editor, Waste & Recycling magazine, Kassapantoniou said, “The scope is actually quite diverse. We are looking at high-footfall, temporary environments such as exhibitions and conferences, but at the same time, we are developing solutions for far more complex environments, including malls, exhibition centres, and even large-scale events like Formula 1.” These settings are more challenging because they involve not just a single organizer, but also multiple independent food and beverage operators, he said.  

Prior to its official launch, Again, Please was piloted across several events in Abu Dhabi, where the system demonstrated high return rates and strong consumer participation, in line with the implemented international best practices, as per a press statement.  

By replacing disposable foodware with reusable alternatives, the system helps partners reduce waste sent to landfill, lower the carbon footprint associated with single-use production, and generate measurable ESG outcomes, he added.  

Consumer behaviour  

“When a robust and intuitive system is in place, people respond positively. During our pilots, we achieved return rates of up to 90% at certain events. This tells us something important: behaviour is not the barrier. The absence of a well-designed system is.” 

When the process is simple and intuitive, the system itself drives behaviour. Over time, that behaviour becomes second nature, Kassapantoniou added.  

According to Kyriakos Kofinas, Executive Advisor, Polygreen, the material selection was driven by factor such as durability, performance, and longevity. “These cups are designed to be used several times before they reach the end of their life. At that point, it is critical that the material itself is recyclable. This is not about replacing single-use plastic with another single-use material like carton. That would not solve the problem. The goal is to eliminate single-use altogether by choosing materials that last.” 

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Excerpts from an interview with Athanasios Polychronopoulos

What are Polygreen’s priorities for the Middle East in 2026? What are the key focus areas, particularly in the UAE?  

The foremost priority for Polygreen and Evogreen is to maintain our leadership position in hazardous waste management in the UAE, where over the past 20 months we have treated more than 150,000 tonnes of hazardous waste.  

In parallel, a major focus for us is building strong strategic partnerships. Within the UAE, we remain open to partnerships that align with our operational scope, values, and long-term vision. 

We bring more than 25 years of European experience. Our goal is to position Evogreen as the most experienced pre-treatment facility in the country. Overall, our focus is on strengthening our footprint and credibility within the UAE through expertise, compliance, and long-term collaboration. 

Polygreen implemented the Just Go Zero initiative, turning the Greek Island of Tilos into a zero-waste destination. What are the challenges in applying this model to a larger city? 

The methodology remains fundamentally the same, whether we are talking about an island or a major city. However, the input always changes. Even in Greece, if we were to implement the same concept on another island, the waste streams and operational parameters would be entirely different.  

In the UAE, implementing a zero-waste strategy for cities or organizations depends heavily on the “DNA” of the organization itself. Based on that, we adapt our approach and offer highly tailored solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all model. 

We are in a position to provide zero-waste consultancy services across a wide range of organizations, from municipalities to multinational corporations.  

Hazardous waste management is a niche sector. What is your vision going forward for Evogreen and what lessons from Europe are most relevant for the UAE? 

Our vision is to maintain our leadership in the hazardous waste sector in the UAE, specifically for the types of waste we handle. We focus on industrial hazardous waste, mainly solid industrial waste. 

One of the most important lessons from Europe is the value of transparency and strict compliance. Having strong, trust-based relationships with customers is critical. Our European DNA is rooted in strict adherence to legislation. This commitment to compliance is non-negotiable for us.