Blenheim Palace and the Eden Project, two of the UK’s most renowned visitor attractions, have made a groundbreaking move to reduce single-use waste by introducing a fully-operational, permanent returnable cup system, designed by re-universe.
This innovative partnership establishes new sustainability benchmarks by utilising digital technology to eliminate the reliance on single-use coffee cups, all while providing a smooth and convenient user experience.
How does it work?
Re-universe clients can choose between two systems: a ‘deposit return’ or a ‘holding charge’ scheme. Both options are designed for simplicity, offering a hassle-free experience with ‘just tap’ and ‘just drop’ returns, aimed at achieving high cup return rates without the need for an app.
Deposit Return Scheme at Blenheim and Eden
Blenheim Palace and the Eden Project have implemented a deposit return system across their sites.
When visitors order a coffee, they have three options:
- Drink in – served in a ceramic cup.
- Money off – by using their own reusable cup.
- Drink out – with a venue-provided returnable cup.
How it works: Visitors who borrow a returnable cup pay a deposit when they make their purchase. Once finished, they simply return the cup to a designated machine and ‘just tap’ their card or phone on the payment terminal. The deposit is refunded almost instantly, allowing them to tap and go. You can watch a video below of our CEO demonstrating the cup return process at the Eden Project.
Holding Charge
This system operates differently from the deposit scheme, but the goal remains the same: to achieve a high return rate and keep reusable containers in circulation for a longer period.
Customers borrow a reusable cup or container, and a holding charge (pre-authorisation) is placed on their card, without requiring an upfront deposit. If the container isn’t returned within the specified timeframe (up to 7 days), the charge is applied to their card as a penalty.
To return the cup, users simply ‘just drop’ it into a smart or non-smart return point. Once returned, the hold is automatically lifted—no apps or taps required.
Behind the Scenes
Each reusable cup or container is equipped with unique RFID technology, allowing us to track its entire journey—from purchase to return and washing. This real-time data enables our clients to efficiently manage inventory, monitor return rates, and assess stock levels and overall impact, providing valuable insights for ongoing system improvements.
Additionally, each cup or container has its own unique identity, allowing for a personalised client experience through the GS1 QR code on the side. This setup supports multiple reuse schemes operating simultaneously on the re-universe platform.
Every cup and return point is integrated into our platform, and we work closely with our clients to tailor the system to meet their specific needs, ensuring an effective and customised solution.
Versatile and Flexible
Our technology allows reuse systems to be implemented anywhere—from venues and workplaces to festivals, exhibitions, and even large-scale locations with multiple brands, such as airports, travel hubs, or music events.
A user-friendly dashboard provides real-time insights into key metrics like return rates, reuse rates, container status and location, return point usage, and washing progress. Handheld scanners also enable quick stock checks and efficient asset management.
Tailored Integration
While we offer a stand-alone, re-universe-managed scheme, we understand this may not suit all clients. For those seeking a more streamlined user experience, we can integrate our system with existing IT and payment platforms, providing clients with full ownership and control. This fully integrated option is available for larger clients who prefer a custom solution.
Measuring Success
Our initiatives are achieving return rates as high as 96%, significantly reducing carbon emissions and eliminating single-use cups from ending up in landfills.
Collaborations
The re-universe platform powers our reuse system, but circularity is a collective effort. We are grateful to our partners and collaborators who have helped us launch the UK’s first fully data-driven reuse platform.
Our recent projects at Blenheim Palace and the Eden Project feature Circular&Co. returnable cups and Cuploop return machines, both of which are integrated into the re-universe platform to ensure seamless operation.
We also extend our thanks to Mastercard, Shift4, Avery Dennison, Smartrac, and GS1 UK for their continued support in making return and reuse effortless with re-universe. A special shout-out to our brilliant cup, container, and return point creators, as well as our exciting pipeline of future clients—thank you! We look forward to working with you all soon!
“The returnable cup scheme is a major step towards our Net Zero pledge, and it’s hugely gratifying to be working alongside re-universe and Eden Project in leading the way for other UK tourist destinations and retailers.”
David Green – Head of Innovation, Blenheim Palace
“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do here at the Eden Project and with so many visitors coming through our doors every year, it is crucial we are walking the talk and operating in as sustainable a way as we can.
“As technology improves to match our ambition, we’re delighted to be working with re-universe alongside Blenheim Palace. We are excited to see how the machines both improve the overall visitor experience when returning their cups and help provide us with data and insights to better understand the engagement and impact the scheme is having.”
Becky Fenner – Hospitality Manager, Eden Project
Get in touch!
If you’re ready to make the switch to reuse and are interested in learning more about re-universe, we’d love to discuss how we can assist you.
Email our team at hello@re-universe.com – we look forward to hearing from you!
No Disposable Cup Day. When one day becomes everyday at Blenheim Palace
Eliminating single use cups for good with help from re-universe
We are excited to announce on No Disposable Cup Day, that after a successful pilot, Blenheim are taking the bold step in eliminating 400,000 single use cups annually through offering crockery (drink in) and Circular&Co. returnable cups (drink on the go).
With a £2 deposit, visitors scan the unique GS1 QR code on the cup which automatically opens the re-universe returns platform for speedy return and deposit refund. Visitors can also gift the deposit to Blenheim’s green initiatives or donate to charity.
There’s no need to download (yet another) app or cause friction by asking the user to register before purchase. Each cup is embedded with RFID technology from Avery Dennison which enables full cup traceability on the re-universe platform, allowing Blenheim to manage their cup inventory with accurate data including return and reuse rates, washing status and location inventory. RFID tech also helps remove unnecessary friction for the consumer.
Following the successful pilot, Blenheim are rolling out returnable cups across the whole visitor attraction this autumn.
How does it work?
Visitors to Blenheim Palace pay a £2.00 deposit on a returnable cup when they purchase a hot drink and get their money refunded back into their nominated bank account when they return the cup for reuse. Visitors can also donate to charity or have a floating deposit to use again and again.
We like to make things easy, so there’s no need to download (yet another) app or cause friction by asking the user to register before purchase. Baristas also don’t have to scan cups out.
The re-universe platform opens automatically when the visitor is ready to return the cup, by scanning the unique QR code on the cup or return point.
Each cup is uniquely identified by GS1 QR codes and supported with RFID, which enables Blenheim to manage their cup inventory with accurate data including return and reuse rates, washing status and location inventory. RFID tech also helps remove unnecessary friction for the consumer.
We’ve collaborated with Circular&Co. on this groundbreaking project. Their returnable cups are tested for at least 1,000 uses, the cups are ‘real world’ recyclable at end of life. Using this returnable cup just three times means it is carbon negative vs. single use.
No Disposable Cup Day – When One Day Becomes Everyday
About re-universe
re-universe is a digital returns platform that makes it easy for people to embrace reuse and recycling in their everyday lives.
Providing the digital backbone of a circular economy
“The returnable cup scheme will eradicate single-use coffee cups on the Estate by using deposit return technology.
We believe climate change is the single biggest threat to Blenheim’s long-term survival and we’re committed to doing all we can to reduce and mitigate its impacts and help safeguard this World
Heritage Site and its resources for future generations.”
David Green – Head of Innovation, Blenheim Palace
“Avery Dennison’s RFID technology, as used by re-universe, helps precisely manage cup inventory with real-time visibility into usage, washing status and availability. A quick scan replaces manual counting and also removes unnecessary steps for the consumer by streamlining the return process.”
Peter Jackson – Avery Dennison
“The investment re-universe have made is very exciting, they are both creative and push boundaries with very innovative ideas. The use of our standards will undoubtedly future proof their customers and we are delighted to be working with them to reduce our collective dependency on single use plastic packaging.”
Jason Hale, head of product, GS1 UK
If you’d like to find out more or chat to us about a potential project please email
hello@re-universe.com
The re-universe returns platform makes it easy for people to return items for reuse or recycling, delivering a frictionless user journey and providing transparency, data and insights for industry.
enjoy, scan, return
Following the successful pilot, Blenheim are rolling out returnable cups across the whole visitor attraction this summer.
Visitors to Blenheim Palace pay a £2.00 deposit on a returnable cup when they purchase a hot drink and get their money refunded back into their nominated bank account when they return the cup for reuse. Visitors can also donate to charity or have a floating deposit to use again and again.
We like to make things easy, so there’s no need to download (yet another) app or cause friction by asking the user to register before purchase. Baristas also don’t have to scan cups out.
The re-universe platform opens automatically when the visitor is ready to return the cup, by scanning the unique QR code on the cup or return point.
Each cup is uniquely identified by GS1 QR codes and supported with RFID, which enables Blenheim to manage their cup inventory with accurate data including return and reuse rates, washing status and location inventory. RFID tech also helps remove unnecessary friction for the consumer.
We’ve collaborated with Circular&Co. on this groundbreaking project. Their returnable cups are tested for at least 1,000 uses, the cups are ‘real world’ recyclable at end of life. Using this returnable cup just three times means it is carbon negative vs single use.
Impact
Saving carbon – delivering insights – commercially viable
Every year the scheme at Blenheim Palace will save approximately 32 tonnes of carbon, eliminating 400,000 single-use cups from the visitor attraction through a mix of ceramic cups and returnable cups.
The scheme saves carbon, eliminates single use cups, delivers data and insights and is also commercially viable.
“We believe climate change is the single biggest threat to Blenheim’s long-term survival and we’re committed to doing all we can to reduce and mitigate its impacts and help safeguard this World Heritage Site and its resources for future generations.
We serve over 400,000 hot drinks at Blenheim each year, so this new scheme has the potential to make a big impact. As well as incentivising people to return their used cups, the initiative also helps us to analyse behaviour and better manage cup collection”
David Green – Head of Innovation, Blenheim Palace
“Avery Dennison’s RFID technology, as used by re-universe, helps precisely manage cup inventory with real-time visibility into usage, washing status and availability. A quick scan replaces manual counting and also removes unnecessary steps for the consumer by streamlining the return process.”
Peter Jackson – Avery Dennison
“The investment re-universe have made is very exciting, they are both creative and push boundaries with very innovative ideas. The use of our standards will undoubtedly future proof their customers and we are delighted to be working with them to reduce our collective dependency on single use plastic packaging.”
Jason Hale, head of product, GS1 UK
If you’d like to find out more or chat to us about a potential project please email
hello@re-universe.com
The consumer journey
Front end simplicity – back end intelligence. No more opaque provenance. No more confused citizens.
The journey may differ by project, but all share a common goal, to make it easy for people to return items for reuse or recycling. Reducing waste and keep valuable items in the circular economy for longer.
1. Get your phone
2. Scan the code
3. Be engaged
4. Return item
5. Get deposit / rewards
Memberships
FAQs
We are known as pioneers in digital returns, having run 2 world-first Digital DRS projects in 2020/2021 and in 2022 we collaborated with Danone on an evian project at Wimbledon, reaching over 500,00 visitors. Our cup reuse project can be found at Blenheim Palace and is due to roll out this summer 2023.
Please get in touch and we can chat through how re-universe can work in your organisation.
1. Transforming consumer behaviour around reuse and recycling – the app incentivises and rewards consumers for good behaviour, whilst having the ability to bring transparency and traceability to the supply chain
2. Bringing incremental economic value through the recycled and re-used items – a true circular economy
3. Immutable, secure and auditable – tracking packaging end to end with smarter solutions
4. Capturing data and insights over time to understand consumer behaviour
5. Depending on the scheme, re-universe can work within existing waste management and infrastucture – reducing costs and carbon footprint
6. re-universe offers a real chance to accelerate change and make a positive difference
7. re-universe brings consumer ease to reuse and recycling
All of our live projects can be found on our website, we are working on a number of projects yet to appear so watch this space!
If you would like to talk to us about a potential collaboration please get in touch at hello@re-universe.com
We are not currently raising funds through external funding rounds.
However, we are always interested in talking to potential investors, particularly those who can bring relevant knowledge and experience.
If you are interested in potentially investing in us then please contact us by emailing hello@re-universe.com
With billions of single use coffee cups ending up UK in landfill every year, it’s encouraging to see the rise in returnable and reusable cup schemes.
There really is no excuse for single use – but for mass engagement and take-up reuse has to be easy and frictionless.
So what’s the answer?
We believe it is re-universe. Our pioneering digital returns platform drives behavioural change and brings rich data and insights.
Tried and tested at Blenheim Palace in collaboration with Circular&Co. and rolling out across the summer, over 95% of users have said the platform is easy/very easy to use.
If you are looking for a return-for-reuse cup scheme that offers the below benefits (and more!) then get in touch…
😁 Consumer benefits
👍 No need to download an app
👍 No need to register bank details before use
👍 Return simply through tech-enabled returns
👍 Get deposit back into nominated bank account with minimal / no bank charges – quickly, easily, securely
👍 Donate to charity or have a floating deposit that can be used again and again
😁 Brand benefits
👍 Behavioural change insights to drive returns
👍 Validation of returns to reduce fraud
👍 Rich data and insights
👍 Cup-to-cup traceability
👍 Measurable scheme
👍 Multi-lingual and multi-brand
👍 Future-proofed for scaleability
Want to find out more?
Drop us an email 👉 hello@re-universe.com
We’d love to hear from you.
Deposit return schemes (DRS) are becoming more and more common all around the world. When you purchase a drink in a plastic bottle (in some cases glass) you’ll be charged a small deposit at point of purchase. When you return the bottle for recycling, you will receive your deposit back.
How your deposit is returned to you is dependent on how the country runs their DRS. In some nations, you’ll need to return the bottle to a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) at a superstore or other retail location. In other countries, the bottle will need to be returned to a designated recycling point (like a council run tip or waste management site). Regardless of the location, the deposit is always able to be claimed back.
The UK government has announced a DRS will be introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024, with Scotland looking to introduce a DRS earlier.
re-universe have developed a system where deposits for beverage containers will be returned through an app that gives an instant reward or loyalty card style collection of points dependent on how the consumer wishes to be rewarded for recycling. This is known as Digital DRS and we are known in the industry as the Digital DRS pioneers.
We have run 2 World-first projects in Northern Ireland and Dublin and look forward to running more Digital DRS projects in the future.
We are really excited to be working with Blenheim Palace to eradicate single use, starting with cups, using our pioneering digital returnable cup scheme this summer, in collaboration with Circular&Co.
We couldn’t be prouder!
—
“We are rolling out a digital return-for-reuse cup scheme, eradicating single-use cups across Blenheim Palace. This important initiative eradicates single-use cups across Blenheim and reflects our commitment to becoming carbon neutral on scopes 1-3 of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol by 2027.
Visitors to Blenheim will be offered the choice of a ceramic or returnable cup when they purchase a hot drink. They will pay a deposit which they will get back when they return the cup for reuse.
Using pioneering digital technology from re-universe, there is no need to download an app or register before use. This was important to us because we want our visitors to be able to buy a coffee quickly and easily – without adding friction to their visit. When the cup is returned visitors are offered multiple options, including the ability to get their refund back digitally, donate to charity or other green initiatives.
We’ve been working with re-universe and Circular&Co. on this groundbreaking project for many months, which included running a pilot and learning and optimising in readiness for full rollout this summer.
We look forward to sharing lessons learnt and best practices to help other like-minded organisations jump on board and eradicate single use.”
David Green – Head of Innovation
re-universe technology is the cornerstone of many recycling and reuse projects that you may already be involved in! Please look at our website for more information.
Global smartphone ownership grows daily. According to recent research, in the UK 95% of all households in the UK own a mobile phone, with 78% of those using a smart phone and this number is growing fast.
Having an app based solution makes re-universe easy and convenient to use, however, for those without a smart phone, we have a home scan option.
re-universe uses GS1 global standards unique codes, or serialisation, which are placed on each individual item (either on the physical product or a receipt). We also use RFID technology for track and trace benefits.
Digitisation is without doubt the future of a true circular economy, allowing for traceability of waste, immutability, flexibility, rich insights and data – for cradle to grave accountability.
We are GS1 partners.