Portugal’s Deposit Return System launches on 10 April, powered by Sensoneo technology

On 10 April 2026, Portugal will introduce its national Deposit Return System (DRS) for beverage packaging, marking a major milestone in the development of the circular economy in Southern Europe. The system, branded Volta, is operated by SDR Portugal: Associação de Embaladores and applies to single-use beverage containers of less than 3 litres made of plastic, aluminium, and steel, with a deposit value of €0.10 per container. Sensoneo’s IT platform provides the digital backbone of the system, supporting end-to-end DRS operations, including container registration, collection, reverse logistics, and financial clearing.

Scope of the Portuguese DRS

The system covers most mainstream ready-to-drink beverages typically sold in plastic bottles or cans, including bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, juices and nectars, energy drinks, beer, and cider, and flavoured alcoholic beverages such as alcopops. Consumers receive the deposit refund when returning empty containers via reverse vending machines or manual take-back points located across the nationwide collection network, which includes more than 3,000 collection points.

Portugal is the first continental Southern European country to implement a nationwide Deposit Return System, following Malta’s launch in 2022.

Structural features shaping Portugal’s DRS design

Portugal’s system stands out for its strong participation in the Horoeka segment, with a high number of hospitality sector collection points expected to contribute to rapid system adoption. The country’s geography has also influenced operational design. Remote and island regions introduced specific logistical requirements, resulting in collection models where certain return locations simultaneously function as storage and material consolidation points. In island territories such as the Azores, collected containers are directly processed into bales at kiosk locations, effectively combining the roles of collection point and warehouse to optimise transport efficiency.

Social impact integrated from day one

From launch, Portugal’s Deposit Return System allows consumers to donate their deposit refunds to charitable causes. Charity participation is managed by retailers and SDR Portugal, enabling flexibility in the selection of organisations and encouraging broader community involvement. This feature strengthens the social dimension of the system while enhancing the overall consumer experience.

Digital infrastructure supporting reverse logistics at scale

Sensoneo’s IT solution supports the full operational lifecycle of the system, including the complex reverse logistics system that enables efficient collection, transport, counting, and settlement of returned containers. The Portuguese DRS required the development of an enhanced logistics architecture, including integration across multiple logistics operators, advanced warehouse management functionality, and connectivity with government systems to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for waste transport documentation.

The digital ecosystem includes several dedicated mobile applications designed to improve operational efficiency and user engagement across stakeholders, including consumers, retailers, drivers, and warehouse operators. In addition, the IT ecosystem incorporates an integrated e-commerce module that allows collection points and retailers to order consumables such as bags and seals through a single digital interface, ensuring smooth day-to-day system operations.

The consumer-facing mobile application, tailored specifically for the Portuguese market, enables users to verify EAN eligibility, locate the nearest collection points and review the criteria required for returning containers, supporting convenient participation in the system.

Shared commitment to delivering a future-proof solution

“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,” said Pedro Lago, Director of Information Systems and Business Development at SDR Portugal.

„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.”
Pedro Lago, Director of Information Systems and Business Development at SDR Portugal

„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.”
Martin Basila, Sensoneo CEO

Sensoneo solutions currently provide end-to-end IT infrastructure for Deposit Return Schemes in nine countries, including Ireland, Romania, and Austria, serving more than 165 million people worldwide. Its recent technological innovation, the “Centralised Redemption Voucher” recently deployed by Malta’s DRS operator BCRS, allows retailers to validate deposit vouchers without relying on a single reverse vending machine (RVM) provider.