Together with Verhaert Masters in Innovation and Cegeka, Twintag was selected by OVAM and Fost Plus to pilot its Digital Deposit Return System, LitterBits, to combat the problem of plastic litter in Belgium.
In December 2022, the Flemish Minister of the Environment, Zuhal Demir, announced that a deposit return system would effectively start in 2025 on all plastic bottles and cans. Soon after, the Flemish government launched a call for digital DRS pilot projects that had to be tested and submitted by the end of 2023.
A positive evaluation of the pilot projects in terms of feasibility and desirability would provide an important argument for selecting a smartphone-based digital system over a conventional solution with reverse vending machines (RVMs) in supermarkets.
The current practice of disposing of used food and beverage packaging in blue bags for recycling in Belgium is part of a very effective approach, with the country at the top of the pack in Europe as far as sorting household waste is concerned. Even so, one-way PET bottles and aluminum cans still make up 40% of the volume of litter in public spaces. As a result, echoing the progress of regulation at the European level, it has been decided to introduce a deposit scheme for one-way beverage packaging, with the choice between a digital and a conventional system still open.
The challenge at hand was to develop and test - within an extremely tight time frame - in a closed, semi-closed, and open environment whether a Digital Deposit Return System (DDRS) could offer a more cost-effective and streamlined solution while addressing concerns on consumer accessibility, data privacy, and fraud susceptibility.
The consumer pays a deposit on the beverage
After consumption, the consumer scans a blue bag (at home) or a blue litter bin (if on the go) with a smartphone (or a home scanner)
This opens a flow to scan the data matrix code on one or more bottles or cans to receive the deposit
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In two POCs conducted in separate locations in Belgium, the implementation of a Digital Deposit Return System resulted in a notably smooth and quick adoption by the targeted user groups.
To counter issues related to improper disposal and/or redemption of deposits, our approach featured a 'proof of proximity in time and space' mechanism as well as unique packaging codes to preclude any package from being scanned more than once.
Demonstrating both efficacy and inclusivity across diverse demographics, fully digital or hybrid deposit return systems have proven to be accessible and beneficial for all age and ability groups, including youngsters and the elderly.
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