Cuploop

"We don't want reusable cups because it's expensive!"

Yes, true. But also no.

Reuse is definitely not (yet) competitive with single-use. But we need to break the barriers.

Let us present a case study where REUSE CAN MAKE MONEY.

Real data:
🔹 15k cups with RFID tags for €0.44 each
🔹 10 Cuploop automated return kiosks (RFID-enabled)
🔹 €0.10 per cup washing
🔹 €0.10 for handling and logistics per cup

Assumptions:
🔹 10k cups used per week, i.e., 40k per month
🔹 95% return rate
🔹 2k new cups purchased each month for replacement
🔹 40k single-use cups eliminated per month at €0.05 each (€2k total)
🔹 Trash pickup & services reduced by €2k per month

Monthly operational costs are nearly €11k in each case. Cup replacement, washing, logistics, and servicing account for 87% of the expenses.

1️⃣ 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝟭: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲" 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹

In this case, the business saves & earns €6k per month.

How?

By:
🔹 eliminating single-use cups,
🔹 reducing trash, and
🔹 earning from unpaid deposits (95% return rate means 2k cups are not returned each month, and the company gets to keep the deposit).

Still, the costs outweigh the savings and the business loses €59k per year by implementing reusables. In the name of ESG and a cleaner world, it's a minor cost for some, major for others.

Note: If instead of single-use plastic cups, one is swapping out compostable cups for reusables, the loss shrinks to €35k.

2️⃣ 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝟮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗥𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲" 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹

This time the business implements a Reuse Service Charge. A mere 20 cents that covers operations and washing. Customers pay €1.20 (or ~€1.25 with VAT) deposit and are refunded €1.

💲 Immediately, the business is €41k in profit. Cost elimination and reduction add up nicely. The CFO is happy and customers don't care much. 💁

‼️ Obviously, this approach doesn't fit all. Economies of scale can drastically change the outcome. For a smaller business, unit costs may be higher, which could change the financial picture.

We’ve tried to provide a balanced, objective case study, but if you spot any issues or flaws, we welcome your feedback.

Note: We haven't included other potential savings and earnings, such as:
🔹 Kiosks can be branded for sponsorship opportunities.
🔹 Automating cup returns minimizes the need for extra staff at collection points.
🔹 Avoid penalties for single-use plastics (though not relevant everywhere, yet).

Are you willing to pay 20 cents for a well-working reuse system? If you are, then probably your customers are too. As long as the price isn’t inflated. Setting a 1 € fee, for example, would likely turn customers away.

Drop, Tap & Go?

Reusable solutions are becoming increasingly common worldwide, and disposable packaging will soon be a thing of the past. 🚫

This is where Cuploop's innovation comes into play.

Our RFID-tagged food containers and Smart Return Kiosks lay the groundwork for transitioning to a circular economy. These solutions extend the lifecycle of packaging and support the development of essential infrastructure in international markets. 🌍

Simply drop off your used containers at one of our kiosks, tap your phone or card, and go. It's that easy! 👍

With RFID technology we ensure efficient tracking and management of container usage, making sustainability convenient and efficient.

Our Customer Success Manager, Mattias Metsaru, recently attended the III Estonian Zero Waste Conference, titled “Circular Systems are a Reality."

This year’s conference highlighted real-world zero waste solutions that are already being implemented. It’s great to see how quickly these concepts have transitioned into practical, effective systems in just a few short years. Including Cuploop, which was merely an idea 5 years ago. 🌱