ReFood Germany boosts infrastructure & green tech

ReFood strengthens its market position in Germany by expanding its infrastructure and investing in advanced depackaging technology.

Expansion

ReFood Germany marked a significant milestone with the opening of its new branch in Eltmann, Bavaria, on August 14, 2025. The modern facility, completed in just 13 months, replaces the previous site in Eltmann-Limbach and offers improved access and faster service thanks to its location in an industrial area with direct highway links. The new site features a modern production hall and office building for 35 employees.

This expansion is part of ReFood’s broader strategy to enhance its infrastructure and service network across Germany, where it currently operates 22 branches and five biogas plants. Two additional branches in Memmingen (Bavaria) and Zörbig (Saxony-Anhalt) are also under construction and scheduled to open next year.

Investment in Green Technology

In parallel, ReFood is investing heavily in ultra-modern depackaging technology to comply with Germany’s revised Biowaste Ordinance, effective May 1, 2025. In addition, the separate collection and processing of packaged and unpackaged organic materials prior to further processing is now mandatory. This has prompted ReFood to invest in depackaging centers in Trossingen, Lampertheim, Marl, and Genthin. While the Trossingen facility was already equipped with the necessary process technology at its opening in 2020, the other locations underwent upgrades throughout 2025 to meet the new standards.
The new solutions enable efficient and legally compliant separation of packaged and unpackaged food waste by minimizing contamination from inorganic materials further and ensuring smooth logistics. Instead of shredding, packaged material is carefully emptied to preserve the integrity of the packaging, which helps reduce microplastic pollution. This careful processing is crucial because ReFood uses the residual material to generate green energy in its biogas plants, which requires the source material to contain as little plastic contamination as possible.

Setting standards

These developments position ReFood at the forefront of sustainable food waste recycling in Germany, ensuring compliance while enhancing environmental performance and operational efficiency.