Tap-to-Reuse™: Deposit-free reuse for food and drinks

Single-use packaging has stayed “default” for a simple reason: it’s operationally easy. Reuse often fails when it adds friction (deposits, apps, complicated returns) or forces costly changes behind the counter.

Tap-to-Reuse™, Reusables.com’s patented approach, flips that script. It makes reusable packaging, including containers and cups, feel nearly invisible for customers and straightforward for operators, while still keeping items accountable through existing retail infrastructure.

What Tap-to-Reuse™ is

Tap-to-Reuse™ is a hardware-enabled software system that lets people borrow reusable packaging at the point of purchase and return it through convenient drop points, often via Smart Return Bins or Stations, so items can be cleaned and recirculated.

It’s designed for the reality of modern “to-go” life:

• meals and snacks in reusable containers
• coffee and cold drinks in reusable cups
• fast handoff during rush periods
• quick returns later, without hassle

The key innovation: deposit-free upfront, without losing control of assets

Traditional deposit systems often create checkout friction and still struggle with scalable operations and consistent return behavior. Reusables.com’s patented approach is different: it removes deposit requirements upfront while maintaining accountability by using existing payment infrastructure, without storing payment information inside the reusable tracking system.

That matters because it means:

• No deposit-first experience for customers (less hesitation at the counter)
• No extra app required to participate (lower barrier during busy moments)
• Operators can launch reuse without rebuilding workflows

The goal is for reuse to work “invisibly” within how retailers already operate, so the sustainable choice becomes the easy choice.

How it works for drinks and food

1) Customers choose reuse at checkout, fast

Tap-to-Reuse is built to integrate with existing retail environments so staff don’t need a complicated new process just to hand out a cup or container.

2) Every item is trackable (cups included)

Each reusable asset, trays, bowls, and cups, is uniquely identified in the system, enabling real operational accountability. In deployments described publicly, the solution uses RFID or QR-tagged packaging and readers placed at key points (POS, and return kiosks/bins or cleaning areas).

3) Returns are designed for real life

Instead of asking customers to hunt down staff or wait in line, programs can enable returns through automated return infrastructure like Smart Return Bins, supporting convenience and reducing contamination issues.

4) Operators get reporting + impact data

Reusables.com’s platform tracks and reports environmental impact and reuse performance, helping teams quantify waste avoided and participation.

A real-world example: SFU’s Mackenzie Café

In partnership with Compass Group Canada (Chartwells), Reusables.com launched its Tap to Reuse + Smart Return Bin technology at Simon Fraser University’s Mackenzie Café, enabling customers to replace single-use packaging with stainless steel reusable containers, and, per program descriptions, a system designed for reusable packaging and cups without deposits or an app.

Public reporting around the SFU rollout also highlights the program’s early results from previous pilots, including reductions in single-use packaging waste and avoided carbon emissions over a six-month period. Since then, the operational method has been extended to other universities, hospitals, and private clubs and sports venues.

Why this matters more than ever (and where it goes next)

The patent behind Tap-to-Reuse™ protects the method of associating reusable assets with customers through existing payment data while keeping asset tracking separate from payment processing, helping reuse scale across different POS environments without forcing a proprietary stack.

And while campus cafés are a natural fit, the same model is designed to extend into other “closed environments” where drinks and food are served at scale, like stadiums, clubs, hospitals, offices, and more.

FAQ

Does Tap-to-Reuse™ work for beverages?

Yes. Public descriptions of deployments and the underlying system explicitly include cups alongside containers (e.g., “trays, bowls and cups,” and references to “containers and cups”).

Do customers need an app or pay a deposit?

It's the beauty of reusables.com, we do no require an app or deposit to re-use, with a model built to reduce customer friction.

What makes return rates high?

Programs combine trackable packaging (e.g., QR or RFID), convenient automated returns, and operational processes for cleaning and recirculation, so returning a cup is as easy as grabbing coffee in the first place.

Want to make reuse the default?

Tap-to-Reuse™ is built for operators who want to eliminate single-use waste without slowing service, and for customers who want the simplest possible path to choosing reusables.