Interview
A Future without Plastic Waste
Cuploop has developed the reverse vending machine to optimize life cycle management and automated deposit return of reusable packaging. Multiple packages are identified instantly with RFID, payment is automated using NFC – a new solution in the trend towards more re-usable packaging.
INTERVIEW WITH LAURI LUIK
Together with the two co-founders Marek Suchazevski and Christopher Juul, CTO Lauri Luik was one of the founding members of Cuploop – intending to make the return process and management of re-usable packaging as fast and simple as possible.
1. What was the motivation for Cuploop to develop its solution?
The idea was to replace single-use with re-usable packaging. Our co-founder Marek attended an event in 2018 that tried to achieve this, but returning the packaging took a long time. The event organizers had problems with the existing systems that were not able to process refunds automatically. Refunding in cash or via app is too complicated at an event with 60,000 people.
We started to figure out how to automate the collecting of re-usable packaging and the deposit refund, and to make this service as easy to use as possible. We don't ask anybody to download any kind of app, fill out a form or give us personal data. The only thing you need to use the solution is your bank card or smartphone.
2. Why does Cuploop use RFID technology, instead of for example barcode or QR-code?
We wanted to make the return process fast. When tens of thousands of people at a concert for example head to the exit and want to return their re-usable packaging, reading the tags one by one with barcode or QR-code takes too long. You can put 40 cups into our machine at once and it reads them all instantly.
We see the biggest advantage if the amount of packaging increases. When most of the vendors switch to re-usable, it is impossible to read large amounts of packaging with barcode or QR-code. With our system, you can read thousands of packaging instantly and track them.
3. Why are event organizers not just using paper cups instead of plastic cups?
The paper cups actually have very thin layer of plastic inside. If the material ends up in nature or in the ocean, then it's about as harmful to the environement as plastic. Therefore, this is not a good solution. Re-usable packaging is the best alternative for single use. And the best material for re-usable items seems to be plastic, PP and PET, because it is not expensive, it is not heavy, and it is very durable. The cups can last for 200 to 300 use cycles and more.
And it is very easy to use RFID on those re-usable plastic cups. If you use a re-usable container, it's already more environmentally friendly after the third use, and even more economical after the 15th use.
4. Do your customers have to buy the machine, or is it rented out?
In the beginning, our aim was to sell the machines, but we have also designed a rental model as well as a subscription model. Our main business is that we take a small fee for every package that is returned into our machine, we call it fee per scan.
In big grocery stores, it can be 1 cent per unit of packaging. For big events like concerts, basketball games and football games, it can be 10 cents. It depends on the business.
Our interest is to spread out our machines as fast as possible everywhere. We can approach the vendors and provide the full service. In some cases, our clients are actually the service providers, meaning that they take care of emptying our machines as well as logistics and washing.
5. What is your vision for Cuploop?
We see a future where there is no plastic waste. And our aim is to make our solution universal and make our machines part of a smart city infrastructure. Single use items are not good for the environment, and many big companies and governments have realized this. Most of the big companies want to show that they are green, or at least going greener.
What is interesting is that we have only reached out to our very first client in Estonia when we started. All other clients have actually reached out to us by themselves. They have some somehow found us, which actually confirms that we are doing the right thing.