Cuploop and Switchio: Smart Solutions for Reuse

Every year, billions of single-use cups are discarded after only a few minutes of use. This leads to massive waste that fills our landfills, pollutes our oceans, and worsens the environmental crisis we face. To tackle this issue, an Estonian circular economy startup Cuploop with the help of Switchio, a payment solutions provider, has come up with an innovative solution.

Our approach isn’t about eliminating cups entirely; instead, we aim to shift the way people think about their use. We’ve designed Smart Return Kiosks that allow individuals to return their empty cups (and other food containers) effortlessly. When they do, they receive their deposit back and, in the process, play a vital role in protecting the environment. It’s a seamless transaction that empowers users to make a positive impact while enjoying the convenience of disposable cups.

Cuploop’s Journey: Food Container Return Made Simple

Cuploop’s journey began in Estonia, where our team created the first RFID-based reverse vending machine specifically designed for food containers. These machines play a crucial role in establishing a circular economy. By enabling food containers to be used, returned, cleaned, and reused, we are significantly reducing waste.

Switchio powers payment terminals in Cuploop’s kiosks

To enhance the user experience, Cuploop’s kiosks are equipped with payment terminals powered by Switchio. Each of the kiosk features an application that seamlessly communicates with the built-in Ingenico Open 2500 terminal, utilizing the Switchio Pay application. We are currently in the process of deploying 27 reverse vending machines, each paired with its own terminal for everyday use.

A significant milestone for us is the installation of Cuploop Smart Kiosks at the Eden Project in the UK. This marks our first permanent presence in the country and the launch of a new payment solution.

Although we made our first deposit refund back in 2020, the journey has been long, filled with challenges, regulations, and the search for the right partners. We are now working with Shift4, an acquirer and payment processor, and Switchio, a gateway provider for transaction routing and payment application services. This collaboration has made our solution a reality.

Christopher Juul
CTO & Co-founder at Cuploop

How it works?

When a customer buys a drink in a reusable cup, a small deposit is added to the purchase. After enjoying their drink, they head to a Cuploop kiosk, tap their bank card on the terminal, and return the cup. The system generates a digital token, which acts as a secure alias for the user’s EMV bank card, and the deposit is refunded instantly.

No hassle, no paperwork – just a simple tap. Or as we say – Drop, Tap & Go!

We are proud to support Cuploop in bringing circular economy principles into everyday life by enabling seamless and convenient digital payments

Jakub Svec
Switchio Account Manager

The Shift to Reusable Solutions

Experts estimate that if reusable systems like ours gain traction, over a trillion single-use cups and bottles could be eliminated from circulation by 2030. Currently, only about 5% of beverage packaging is reusable, but with ongoing innovation and collaboration, we believe this could rise to 10% in just a few years. Our aim goes beyond merely recycling cups; we strive to fundamentally reshape how we perceive and manage waste.

The strength of Cuploop’s system lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. In this initiative, Switchio plays a vital role as the Payment Application provider, offering tokenization and gateway services that ensure secure and seamless transactions for our users.

Would you like to discuss how Cuploop can integrate into your business? Get a quick demo with Lauri Luik!