We designed and implemented a Proof of Concept (PoC) project called Eco To Go at the University of Chester in September 2020 for a trial study. The prototyped solution was designed to encourage and incentivise the increase in the reuse of plastic packaging involved in the food & drink industry.
There are four key components of this system which are described as follows:
End user portal
Customers will register to this portal and use the unique customer QR code to get the food in the reusable container. The portal will also show the points accumulated and information on the containers that are pending return.
Till Kiosk
This kiosk will be used to scan the customer QR code and QR code on the containers. This will enable container assignment to a customer.
Bin Kiosk
This kiosk will be used to scan the containers that are put in the Bin. Here the staff can scan the container which will then be taken off of the customer’s account and then the staff can decide whether the container should be re-used (goes to dishwasher) or recycled due to damage.
Management Portal
The management portal will enable the management staff to view the usage statistics and other details like the number of containers held by customers, points earned by the customers etc.
This trial study enabled us to understand various pitfalls in the current reusable sector such as:
Need for consumer behaviour change
Technology was not the core of the reusable offerings which resulted in a disconnected supply chain and reverse logistics
Higher cost of reusable products and higher fines if not returned therefore the consumers preferred single-use packaging
We then decided to study this reusable sector in detail and the consumer behaviour which resulted in Circulayo’s birth as a startup.
