RETURN VENDING KIOSKS
Return vending kiosks: driving retail recycling and sustainability efforts Jay Kim, managing director, Bixolon Europe, discusses how return vending kiosks, in conjunction with kiosk printing technology, can contribute to recycling and waste reduction efforts for consumers and retailers within the retail industry.
Faced with mounting environmental concerns and regulatory pressures aimed at mitigating plastic packaging waste, the retail sector finds itself at a crossroads. With consumers increasingly prioritising eco-friendliness when making buying decisions, the urgency to combat plastic pollution and promote efficient
These kiosks, often appearing as large machines with various-sized holes for different products and materials, have been fixtures in retail landscapes for decades, gaining traction initially in Northern European nations like Sweden and Denmark during the 1980s and early 1990s. By incorporating receipting printing technology, these kiosks can incentivise consumers to recycle by generating receipts or vouchers upon recycling or returning a bottle after use, thus encouraging increased participation. Over time, these kiosks have evolved, integrating advanced features such as the cloud-based integration of technology and infrastructure into appropriate schemes to enhance efficiency, user experience and provide valuable data insights. For instance, Romania’s deposit return scheme integrates with an operator and various systems and technologies to enable it to work well. One compelling example of the success of these schemes in Europe is Sweden, where the Swedish Deposit Return Scheme, Pantamera, operates under Returnpack, a company owned by the country’s retailers and drinks producers. Adhering to GS1 standards, the scheme covers aluminium cans and PET bottles, excluding glass. In Sweden, this scheme has resulted in recycling rates of up to 84% for PET bottles and 81% for cans in 2017, underscoring the pivotal role that these kiosks and systems can play in driving sustainability initiatives in retail environments. Industry legislation driving change A significant shift towards sustainability and the retrieval of used bottles within the retail industry is strongly propelled by legislative frameworks such as the EU
recycling has never been clearer. Further, the announcement by the
government regarding the implementation of a deposit return scheme for plastic and metal drinks containers by October 2025 underscores the imperative to address this kind of waste in the industry. Similarly, across Europe, the recycling rates for plastic (PET) bottles hover at suboptimal levels about 50%, demonstrates the need for innovative solutions to drive recycling practices forward.
Jay Kim managing director
bixoloneu.com
Role of return vending kiosks in promoting sustainability
Return vending kiosks, seamlessly integrated with the latest in open frame kiosk printing technology, facilitate the collection and responsible disposal of recyclable materials.
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