Today, Portugal is launching its national Deposit Return System (DRS) for ready-to-drink beverage packaging – introducing over 3,000 collection points, including baling capabilities at remote kiosk locations.
The system is branded Volta and operated by SDR Portugal: Associação de Embaladores. It covers mainstream beverages sold in plastic, aluminium, or steel containers of less than 3L; these include bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, juices and nectars, energy drinks, beer, cider, and flavoured alcoholic beverages like alcopops.
Consumers pay a set deposit value of €0.10 per container, which is refunded when they return their empty packaging to a reverse vending machine or manual take-back point across the nationwide collection network.
Consumers can also opt to donate their deposit refunds to charitable causes. SDR Portugal will work alongside retailers to manage charity participation, allowing flexibility when selecting organizations and encouraging wider community involvement.
Numerous collection points have been established in the hospitality sector, which is hoped to drive system adoption. Specific logistical requirements have also been considered for remote and island regions; for instance, island territories such as the Azores will directly process collected containers into bales at kiosk locations – functioning as both storage and material consolidation points to improve transport efficiency.
Sensoneo has provided its IT solution to operate the system and support end-to-end DRS operations – container registration, collection, transport, counting, financial clearing, etc.
An enhanced logistics architecture has been developed for Portugal’s DRS. This includes integration across multiple logistics operators, advanced warehouse management functionality, and connectivity with government systems to comply with documentation requirements for transporting waste.
As part of the digital ecosystem, multiple dedicated mobile applications have been designed to improve operational efficiency and user engagement between warehouse operators, drivers, retailers, and consumers.
An integrated e-commerce module is also implemented into the IT ecosystem. Collection points and retailers can order bag, seals, and other consumables through a single digital interface to unlock smooth day-to-day system operations.
The system’s consumer-facing mobile application has also been designed specifically for the Portuguese market. Intended to help consumers participate in the national DRS, users can verify EAN eligibility, locate the nearest collection points, and review the criteria required for returning containers.
Pedro Lago, director of Information Systems and Business Development at SDR Portugal, explains: “Portugal’s Deposit Return System for beverage packaging is built on the principles of Convenience and Simplicity for consumers, as well as Transparency and Efficiency for all entities involved in the system, namely producers, distributors, HORECA establishments, logistics operators, industrial partners, RVM suppliers, and social institutions.
“To ensure these principles, we have developed a system with high levels of security, fully digital (including the digital signing of thousands of contracts), and with decision-making processes based on accurate, reliable, and real-time information.
“From a technological perspective, Sensoneo has been SDR Portugal’s main partner throughout this journey. We rely on its experience, expertise, and customer-oriented approach in implementing what we believe to be one of the most sophisticated and advanced deposit return systems in the world.”
Sensoneo CEO Martin Basila adds: “Portugal is the first Southern European country to deploy a nationwide deposit return system, positioning itself as a pioneer and a strong role model for other countries in the region. The system brings a unique level of complexity, particularly due to its island territories and the significant role of the HORECA sector.
“It is an honour for us to support Portugal as a technology partner on its journey towards a circular economy. The implementation has been driven by a strong spirit of partnership, a clear strategic vision, and a shared commitment to delivering a high-quality, future-proof solution. We believe the system will contribute significantly to increasing the collection rate of high-quality recyclable beverage packaging.”
Reportedly, Portugal is the first continental Southern European country to introduce a nationwide DRS; but Sensoneo currently operates end-to-end IT infrastructure for DRS in nine countries.
Back in 2022, it supported the foundation of a nationwide DRS in Malta, operated by BCRS Malta Ltd. This system also places a strong emphasis on the HORECA sector due to the country’s popularity as a tourist destination in the summer months.
Sensoneo has since reported that over 1 billion containers have been collected via Ireland’s DRS, which utilizes 3,200 active collection points - 2,600 using reverse vending machines and 600 using manual collection.
It is also working with EWP Recycling Pfand Österreich, the national operator of Austria’s national DRS, to enter the next phase of the scheme after collecting 1.2 billion PET bottles and aluminium cans by the end of November 2025.
Elsewhere, Swedish DRS operator Returpack/Pantamera reports that over 3 billion PET bottles and aluminium cans were returned through the country’s system in 2025 – a 130 million increase compared to 2024.
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