Digital deposit receipts for a customer-friendly recycling system in retail

In Germany, the mandatory deposit for beverage containers such as bottles and cans was introduced in 2003, while in Austria the deposit system for single-use plastic and metal beverage containers has only been in place since January 2025. However, the Austrians are overtaking Germany in another respect: retailers in Austria were early adopters of the digitalization of the deposit process.

Deposit systems for drinks containers are already a reality in many countries in various forms and dimensions. Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Norway already introduced deposit systems before the turn of the millennium, and such systems now exist in almost all Australian states, in some US states and nationwide in Israel. The Czech Republic (from 2026), Spain (from 2026) and the United Kingdom (from 2027), among others, are currently planning to introduce or expand deposit systems for drinks containers. The European Commission is also aiming for all EU member states to establish such systems by 2029 at the latest.

SPAR is the first Austrian retailer to integrate a digital deposit receipt into the SPAR app. This step eliminates the conventional paper receipt and offers customers several advantages. After returning the deposit bottles and scanning a QR code at the vending machine with the SPAR app, consumers can choose whether they want to donate the amount to a charitable organization or receive a digital coupon. In the case of a coupon, the deposit amount is credited directly to the app account and automatically deducted at the checkout when the next purchase is made. The use of the app and therefore the digital voucher is voluntary, the paper voucher is still available.

With this introduction, SPAR is demonstrating how digital solutions in retail can not only increase convenience for customers, but also contribute to sustainability by reducing the use of paper receipts.

According to a report by the supermarket blog, the discounter Lidl is also working on implementing digital deposit vouchers for its Lidl Plus users. Similar to SPAR AT, customers will be able to scan a QR code at the deposit machine via the Lidl Plus app to identify themselves. After the return, the deposit receipt is automatically stored in the app and the credit is credited. One major difference to SPAR is that the deposit credit at Lidl can currently only be redeemed in the store where the return was made.

A Digital Deposit Return System (DDRS) is an innovative approach to the return of beverage containers that uses digital technologies to make recycling more convenient for consumers. Unlike traditional systems that rely on reverse vending machines, DDRS focuses primarily on returns via the consumer's own waste garbage can at home (“kerbside collection”) as well as other flexible return options – for example in public waste containers, at participating retailers or at special collection points.

With digital deposit returns, consumers scan the individual code printed on the packaging using a smartphone app. This code is linked to a digital wallet through which the deposit is automatically refunded.

Such systems are currently still in the testing phase, but have great potential to improve recycling behavior and reduce the amount of waste.

The Flanders region in Belgium is planning a digital deposit system for 2025, in which bottles and cans no longer have to be returned to retailers. Instead, consumers will be able to scan both the drinks container and the public collection container using an app - the refund will then be made directly to their account.

In a pilot project in the UK, the company Polytag has teamed up with the Swedish recycling app Bower and the online retailer Ocado Retail. Customers scan milk bottles with QR codes and receive rewards such as cash, discount coupons or donation opportunities for charitable organizations.

In South Wales, the Buxton brand also ran a test run in which households scanned their QR-coded drinks containers by cell phone and recycled them via the household waste collection or return points.

If environmental protection is to be successful, it must be as easy and convenient as possible for consumers to implement. These examples underline the trend towards establishing the app as a central tool for customer interaction. It will be interesting to see how these digital solutions establish themselves.