Deposit return system: digitising something is not the same as innovation

It is too early to celebrate. Minister Demir's decision to opt for deposit return schemes was not a choice for the existing, trusted system, where you as a consumer return your empties to the shop and get your money back immediately. This, however, already proves to work in other European countries.

28 Apr 2023

Deposit return scheme: digitising something does not equal innovation Written by Chloé Schwizgebel, Fair Resource Foundation and Nina Maat, Bond Beter Leefmilieu 2023 as an opportunity to test a 'digital' system It is too early to celebrate. Indeed, Minister Demir's decision to go for a deposit return scheme was not a choice for the existing, trusted system, where you as a consumer return your empties to the shop and get your money back immediately. However, this already seems to work in other European countries. Moreover, a survey by Testaankoop in 2021 showed that over 88% of the population is fine with returning packaging to collection points such as supermarkets. The decision only states that there will be a deposit on all cans and plastic bottles in 2025 and that the industry will be given time this year to try out a new system. This new system asks consumers to scan a QR code on the packaging and the blue bag before throwing away their waste. Digitisation does not equal innovation Make no mistake: we have a warm heart for innovation. But digitising something does not equal innovation. Indeed, innovation only occurs when you offer a new solution to a problem. And the preparatory study commissioned by Fost Plus already revealed a lot of uncertainties regarding privacy, fraud and accessibility in the digital deposit system. Not every citizen has access to digital applications. Secondly, the question is who will bear the extra costs and extra burdens. With a digital deposit system, for example, companies are more likely to pass on the extra cost of printing the QR codes on cans to the consumer. In addition, it is uncertain whether all producers will be on board with the new system in time, especially given the many questions regarding feasibility. Finally, the key question: will this system actually lead to less litter? Citizens can still dump their waste after scanning. In addition, it is not clear whether this system will contribute to an effective circular economy for packaging by collecting even better separately or by setting up a system for reusable packaging. These weaknesses already convinced Wales to eventually opt for a classic deposit return scheme after a similar test. Core conditions for a good system Where the existing deposit return scheme has already earned its stars, the scanning system is given another six months to prove itself. Its success or failure will depend on a few key conditions. Firstly, a deposit return scheme is only successful if it leads to less litter, thereby reducing the cost for citizens and the environment. Secondly, it must be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, health, mobility or financial strength, with or without internet, smartphone or bank account number. Thirdly, it must not give fraud and privacy violations a chance. The Flemish digital test phase seems more like an ultimate attempt by the packaging sector to escape their responsibility. A lot of wasted time that could have been better invested in reducing the waste mountain. Real innovation would, for example, focus on ecodesign and circularity, where reuse is already considered at the beginning of the production chain, something Europe indicates it wants to fully commit to. Walloon Environment Minister Céline Tellier is taking a slightly different approach. She also wants to roll out a deposit system in 2025 and is therefore first conducting a preparatory study herself to find the best option. For this, she is sitting down with all regions and neighbouring countries to ensure uniformity and convenience for the citizen. Therefore, we will continue to insist on transparency throughout the process, clear planning with hard deadlines and the involvement of different target groups. In this way, we guard the ultimate goal: less waste in our environment thanks to an effective and accessible deposit return scheme in 2025. Related tags More on this topic How do we really put an end to illegal trade in plastic waste? 04 Jun, 2026 Not recycling plastic waste, but leaving it behind in Turkey or Southeast Asia and in the meantime making more and more new single-use plastic, to satisfy our insatiable need for plastic. It seemed for a moment that the EU wanted to put an end to this. But unfortunately. The new EU rules will not prevent criminals from making money from our plastic waste. And in Turkey, ordinary people pay the price with environmental pollution and exploitation. How are we going to fix this? read more Multinationals want to sabotage new EU rules against single-use packaging, we are trying to stop them 15 May, 2026 Three months before the entry into force of new European legislation for less single-use packaging, more reuse and an end to toxic PFAS in food packaging (packaging regulation PPWR), multinationals are still trying to stop the rules. While the world in to

Written by Chloé Schwizgebel, Fair Resource Foundation and Nin

2023 as an opportunity to test a 'digital' system

It is too early to celebrate. Indeed, Minister Demir's decision to go for a deposit return scheme was not a choice for the existing, trusted system, where you as a consumer return your empties to the shop and get your money back immediately. However, this already seems to work in other European countries. Moreover, a survey by Testaankoop in 2021 showed that over 88% of the population is fine with returning packaging to collection points such as supermarkets.

The decision only states that there will be a deposit on all cans and plastic bottles in 2025 and that the industry will be given time this year to try out a new system. This new system asks consumers to scan a QR code on the packaging and the blue bag before throwing away their waste.

Digitisation does not equal innovation

Make no mistake: we have a warm heart for innovation. But digitising something does not equal innovation. Indeed, innovation only occurs when you offer a new solution to a problem. And the preparatory study commissioned by Fost Plus already revealed a lot of uncertainties regarding privacy, fraud and accessibility in the digital deposit system. Not every citizen has access to digital applications. Secondly, the question is who will bear the extra costs and extra burdens. With a digital deposit system, for example, companies are more likely to pass on the extra cost of printing the QR codes on cans to the consumer. In addition, it is uncertain whether all producers will be on board with the new system in time, especially given the many questions regarding feasibility. Finally, the key question: will this system actually lead to less litter? Citizens can still dump their waste after scanning. In addition, it is not clear whether this system will contribute to an effective circular economy for packaging by collecting even better separately or by setting up a system for reusable packaging.

These weaknesses already convinced Wales to eventually opt for a classic deposit return scheme after a similar test.

Core conditions for a good system

Where the existing deposit return scheme has already earned its stars, the scanning system is given another six months to prove itself. Its success or failure will depend on a few key conditions. Firstly, a deposit return scheme is only successful if it leads to less litter, thereby reducing the cost for citizens and the environment. Secondly, it must be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, health, mobility or financial strength, with or without internet, smartphone or bank account number. Thirdly, it must not give fraud and privacy violations a chance.

The Flemish digital test phase seems more like an ultimate attempt by the packaging sector to escape their responsibility. A lot of wasted time that could have been better invested in reducing the waste mountain. Real innovation would, for example, focus on ecodesign and circularity, where reuse is already considered at the beginning of the production chain, something Europe indicates it wants to fully commit to.

Walloon Environment Minister Céline Tellier is taking a slightly different approach. She also wants to roll out a deposit system in 2025 and is therefore first conducting a preparatory study herself to find the best option. For this, she is sitting down with all regions and neighbouring countries to ensure uniformity and convenience for the citizen.

Therefore, we will continue to insist on transparency throughout the process, clear planning with hard deadlines and the involvement of different target groups. In this way, we guard the ultimate goal: less waste in our environment thanks to an effective and accessible deposit return scheme in 2025.