In 1988 the Austrian Department of Agriculture launched a study on the economies of reusable containers. This study showed that there were financial benefits to be gained with reusable containers. However no changes resulted directly from the study. At the end of 1988, the growers’ Marktbüro für Obst und Gemüse (market organization for fruit
and vegetables) called a meeting of all parties involved, including the
government, where the basis for a pilot project was discussed.