Since its first live deployment at the end of April, Smart DRS has processed more than 150,000 reusable cup returns across international sporting events, major music festivals, cultural events and continuous seasonal operations. The technology supports more efficient reuse systems and contributes to the wider adoption of food and drink sustainable packaging.
The largest deployments so far include more than 44,300 returns at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship, 42,600 at LOVESTREAM and 28,500 at Grape. Together, the two summer festivals generated more than 71,000 reusable cup returns.
Smart DRS has also moved beyond one-off events. Since mid-July, two Smart DRS stations have operated throughout the summer at Tyrsak, a popular riverside leisure destination on the Danube in Bratislava. The stations process an average of 618 reusable cup returns per day. This performance demonstrates how automated return technology can support continuous seasonal operations as well as concentrated, high-volume events involving food and drink packaging.
More than 71,000 reusable cup returns at LOVESTREAM and Grape
LOVESTREAM Festival welcomed more than 100,000 visitors over three days, with Robbie Williams and David Guetta among its headliners. Nine Smart DRS Dual stations provided 18 return points across the festival site, enabling visitors to return 42,600 reusable cups.
Only days later, seven Dual stations at Grape Festival processed a further 28,500 reusable cup returns during the three-day event. This represented an average of 9,500 cups per day. Visitors returned slightly more than two cups per transaction on average.
At both festivals, visitors inserted an eligible reusable cup and used a payment card or supported contactless device to receive their deposit directly back to their account. The process required no app or user registration. LOVESTREAM charged a EUR 3 deposit per cup, while Grape charged EUR 2.
“We wanted visitors to spend as little time as possible thinking about returning their cups and as much time as possible enjoying the festival. The automated return stations worked very well in this respect – the process was quick, simple and intuitive. The number of cups returned is a great result for us and, above all, a strong indication that visitors embraced this way of returning their cups naturally,” said Erika Barkolova, LOVESTREAM Festival Manager.
From first live deployment to real-world scale
Smart DRS made its live debut at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in Slovakia at the end of April. Eight automated return stations operated across arenas in Bratislava and Trencin during 29 games. In total, they processed more than 44,300 reusable cup returns, bringing automated food and drink packaging collection directly into the demanding environment of a multi-day international sporting championship.
Since then, Smart DRS has expanded across a range of event formats and operating environments, including music festivals, cultural events and longer-term venue operations. The return stations automatically verify eligible packaging and connect each return with direct-to-card deposit reimbursement.
For visitors, this means deposits return directly to a payment card or supported contactless device without cash, paper vouchers, an app or user registration. For organizers, the system reduces manual cup handling and cash-based refund processes. In addition, it provides valuable data on return volumes, transactions and peak periods, helping businesses manage sustainable packaging programs more effectively.
Beyond reuse: Smart DRS for single-use Deposit Return Schemes
Smart DRS technology also supports single-use Deposit Return Schemes. It can complement traditional collection infrastructure, such as Reverse Vending Machines, or operate as an independent and flexible collection method for food and drink packaging. As a result, the technology can help organizations expand collection capacity while supporting more sustainable packaging strategies. Smart DRS is expected to enter its first single-use deployment in September.
