Cuploop and Switchio: Smart Solutions for Single-Use Plastic
Every year, billions of single-use cups are tossed after just a few minutes of use. They pile up in landfills, clog oceans, and contribute to a growing environmental crisis. Cuploop, an Estonian startup with a bold vision for change, and Switchio, a payment solutions provider, found the solution to this problem.
The goal wasn’t to eliminate cups altogether but to change the way we think about using them. The idea was straightforward: build smart kiosks where people could return their empty cups, get their deposit back, and help the environment—all in one seamless transaction.
Cuploop’s Journey: Revolutionizing Reusable Cups
Cuploop’s story begins in Estonia, where a visionary team developed its first reverse vending machines for reusable cups. These machines aren’t just recycling tools—they’re integral to a circular economy, enabling cups to be used, returned, cleaned, and reused, reducing waste.
Switchio powers payment terminals in Cuploop’s kiosks
Cuploop has its own machines with an application that communicates with built- in Switchio’s Ingenico Open 2500 terminal powered by Switchio Pay application. Currently preparing 27 reverse machines with the same number of terminals for everyday use.
A key milestone is the Cuploop Smart Kiosks at the Eden Project in the UK, marking their first permanent installation in the country and the debut of a new payment solution.
Although we made our first deposit refund back in 2020, the journey has been long, filled with challenges, regulations, and the search for the right partners. We are now working with Shift4, an acquirer and payment processor, and Switchio, a gateway provider for transaction routing and payment application services. This collaboration has made our solution a reality.
How it works?
When a customer buys a drink in a reusable cup, a small deposit is added to the purchase. After enjoying their drink, they head to a Cuploop kiosk, tap their bank card on the terminal, and return the cup. The system generates a digital token, which acts as a secure alias for the user’s EMV bank card, and the deposit is refunded instantly. No hassle, no paperwork—just a simple tap.
A Global Shift Toward Reuse
It’s estimated that over a trillion single-use cups and bottles could be removed from circulation by 2030 if reusable systems like these become widespread. Today, only about 5% of packaging for beverages is reusable, but with continued innovation and collaboration, that number could reach 10% in just a few years. The goal isn’t just to recycle cups—it’s to fundamentally change how we think about waste.
Switchio's primary role in this project is a gateway provider for transaction routing and payment application services. "We are proud to support Cuploop in bringing circular economy principles into everyday life by enabling seamless and convenient digital payments," says Jakub Svec, Switchio Account Manager.
The beauty of Cuploop’s system lies in its simplicity. By making reuse easy, convenient, and rewarding, they are changing the way people interact with their environment. What was once an overwhelming problem—the endless piles of plastic waste—now has a smart solution.
