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Anyone who wants to return an empty drinking cup during a football match or concert to recover the deposit sometimes has to queue for a long time. For organisers, reusable cups also create additional work, particularly in terms of logistics: collecting cups, refunding deposits and ensuring that as few cups as possible go missing. To make this process more efficient, Aucxis developed a solution based on RFID technology, enabling each cup to be identified and tracked automatically.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"From the flower auction to the football stadium"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"left","extension":"png","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/47a67c5f-8baa-4ed3-a813-f1b1b279b4d4/Jason-Scrivens-Aucxis.png","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/47a67c5f-8baa-4ed3-a813-f1b1b279b4d4/Jason-Scrivens-Aucxis"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The innovation originated in a very different sector. Founded in 1983, Aucxis supplies software and electronic systems that enable auction houses to automate and digitalise their sales processes. “About ten years ago, flower auction company Royal FloraHolland asked us to develop a solution for tracking its containers,” says Chief Innovation Officer Jason Scrivens. “The Aalsmeer auction is the largest in the world: its site covers an area equivalent to 200 football pitches. Locating used roll containers at the end of an auction day took an enormous amount of time. We therefore developed a system using RFID tags on every item of packaging, allowing them to be located much more quickly.”
We wanted to simplify returns so that supporters would no longer waste time queuing and could quickly get back to enjoying the match
That same technology was further developed and led to the STAR reusable drinking cup. Jason Scrivens explains: “In 2022, football club Royal Antwerp FC approached us. It was looking for a more efficient way to collect reusable cups and refund deposits automatically. Manual systems and QR-code solutions already existed, but they had their limitations. Above all, we wanted to simplify returns so that supporters would no longer waste time queuing and could quickly get back to enjoying the match.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Automatic processing and refunds"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The STAR cup contains a small built-in RFID chip that can be read wirelessly. This makes the system highly user-friendly for both organisers and visitors. “When a visitor orders a drink, an antenna at the till records which cups are associated with the payment. We register the transaction, but no personal customer data,” Scrivens explains. “After use, the visitor simply places the empty cup in a designated container. The antenna inside recognises the chip, and the system automatically refunds the deposit. No manual action is required.”
It also provides organisers with much better insight into where cups are used and returned
Automating the process makes handling used cups faster and much simpler. For organisers, the system means fewer staff are needed while errors and fraud are prevented. “It also provides them with much better insight into where cups are used and returned. They can use this information to optimise their logistics and visitor flows.”
The results at Royal Antwerp FC are remarkable: 98 per cent of the cups are returned. This has enabled the club to avoid more than one million disposable cups each year, saving seven tonnes of plastic waste per season. Since the system was introduced, drink sales have risen by 7 per cent, partly thanks to faster service.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"ING Arena opts for a permanent installation"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Following the rollout at Antwerp’s football stadium, many other applications followed at events and festivals such as Tomorrowland. Interest is also growing beyond Belgium, with projects in the United Kingdom, Germany and Denmark, among other countries. The most recent installation took place at ING Arena at the Heysel site in Brussels. The concert and events venue is the first permanent location in Belgium to use the Aucxis system on an ongoing basis.
Director Martin Mahoux says: “This solution was the logical choice for us because it had already proven its value in environments at least as demanding as ours in terms of visitor numbers and pace. For a venue like ours, which welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year, it was important to make the switch to reusable cups. This has enabled us to reduce our environmental impact. With STAR, we can do so without compromising the visitor experience, while significantly improving efficiency for our teams.”
ING Arena is anticipating new European legislation aimed at accelerating the transition from single-use to reusable packaging
For ING, this is perfectly aligned with the sustainability objectives the bank aims to embed across all its activities. Marc Callier, Head of Sustainability, says: “Aucxis’ STAR system combines a better experience for concertgoers with a stronger business case for reusable cups: a smoother return process, automated processing and more efficient management of cup flows. In addition, ING Arena is anticipating new European legislation aimed at accelerating the transition from single-use to reusable packaging and restricting single-use plastic packaging for on-site consumption from 2030 onwards.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Ambitions extend beyond drinking cups"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Aucxis plans to roll out the system more widely internationally in the coming years. “With new investors and international partners, we will be able to scale up more quickly and serve larger customers as well,” says Jason Scrivens. “The technology can be applied just as easily to other packaging or products that require a return process. We have already used it for reusable food containers at the Christmas market in Ghent. But it could also be used for towels and bathrobes in hotels, for example. Wherever products need to be collected for reuse, automatic identification can make a difference.”
"}}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"ad1ed8a7-78be-48fb-b585-9d85d8506795","legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. See how we’re progressing on ing.com/climate.
This article is for informative purposes only and the information set out herein may change with time. We therefore recommend that you always reference specific regulations and requirements with the competent authorities for the latest information. Additionally, we advise that you seek professional advice on a case-by-case basis before making any decisions. Please note that ING Belgium SA/NV cannot be held liable for any decision taken on the basis of the information provided.
"}}]},"localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"Sustainable business","url":"/en/business/sustainable-business"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"Reusable drinking cups are becoming increasingly common in football stadiums, concert halls and at events. However, collecting them and refunding the deposit often remains a logistical challenge. Belgian technology company Aucxis therefore developed STAR, a system that automatically registers reusable cups and handles deposit refunds.","title":"Aucxis’ smart reusable cups make events more sustainable and efficient for visitors"},"date":"2026-10-26","readingTime":0},"publishDate":"2026-10-28T12:26:19.063+01:00"}}