{"id":7997,"date":"2025-07-02T00:00:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=7997"},"modified":"2025-07-02T00:00:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:00:17","slug":"lisbon-becomes-first-european-capital-with-city-wide-reusable-cup-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=7997","title":{"rendered":"Lisbon Becomes First European Capital with City-Wide Reusable Cup System"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Lisbon is making history as the first European capital to roll out a city-wide reusable cup system backed by a local deposit-return model. The initiative\u2014driven by a collaboration between the City of Lisbon, TOMRA<\/a>, and the Portuguese hospitality association AHRESP\u2014is designed to tackle plastic waste, slash emissions, and bring a smarter reuse model to the city\u2019s bustling nightlife and hospitality sector.<\/p>\n

Starting June 27, the first TOMRA-operated return points went live at two historical kiosks in Pra\u00e7a de S\u00e3o Paulo and Pra\u00e7a do Pr\u00edncipe Real. Customers purchasing drinks receive them in reusable cups, paying a deposit that is fully refunded upon return\u2014simply by tapping their card or phone at the collection point. Full roll-out of the reusable cup system is planned for October 2025.<\/p>\n

A smart system built for urban life<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The project is powered by TOMRA\u2019s \u201cRotake\u201d system\u2014a full-service reuse model including digital tracking, cup collection, sanitation, and redistribution. TOMRA, which pioneered fully-automated reverse vending technology, is managing the entire lifecycle of the cups to ensure efficiency, hygiene, and environmental performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re proud to partner with Lisbon on this first-of-its-kind city system in a European capital,\u201d said Geir S\u00e6ther, Head of TOMRA Reuse. \u201cThe system deployed in Lisbon is designed specifically for urban areas\u2014 making reuse easy, clean, and rewarding for everyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every night, 25,000 cups are used across Lisbon\u2019s entertainment areas. Despite cups being labeled and sold as \u201creusable,\u201d no system has been in place to collect, clean and recirculate cups.<\/p>\n

Policy meets infrastructure<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The roll-out follows the Lisbon Municipal Regulation banning single-use plastic cups, a bold move that required robust infrastructure to succeed. With TOMRA\u2019s scalable system and strong local buy-in, the city is now ready to deliver real impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cLisbon is committed to leading by example, promoting sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and engaging partners in real change toward more conscious consumption habits. This is a concrete step toward building a culture of reuse in our city and inspiring other municipalities to follow the same path,\u201d said Rui Cordeiro, City Councilor for Waste Management and Circular Economy, City of Lisbon.<\/p>\n

Hospitality sector onboard<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Crucial to the system\u2019s success is participation from the hospitality sector. AHRESP, Portugal\u2019s largest hospitality association, is helping bring caf\u00e9s, bars, and nightlife venues into the reuse loop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis initiative represents a necessary shift for the hotel\/restaurant\/catering (HoReCa) sector, which now takes on an active and central role in the transition towards a more circular economy. Establishments not only gain a practical solution to comply with the new regulations, but also an opportunity to lead, together with consumers, a sustainable and positive change in habits for the city of Lisbon,\u201d said Carlos Moura, President of AHRESP.<\/p>\n

How it works<\/strong><\/h3>\n