Kaufland relies on innovation: New deposit machines revolutionize return!

Kaufland relies on innovation: New deposit machines revolutionize return!

On April 25, 2025, Kaufland introduced a significant novelty in the empty return. In several branches of the company, innovative deposit machines were installed, which enable customers to simplify empties. The new machines are based on an advanced multi-feed system from Tomra, which contributes to the fact that customers can throw in their entire empties in one momentum instead of having to hand in individually.

These developments come at a time when the efficiency and user -friendliness in the return of deposit bottles and doses are of great importance for many consumers. The technology behind the new machines, in particular the Tomra R2, not only offers an illuminated touchscreen that leads through the return process, but also the possibility of returning glass bottles to the machines, which is an important innovation.

locations of the new deposit machines

Currently, the new machines are already installed in the Kaufland branches in Dortmund, Ludwigsburg, Worms and Ahrensfelde. The branch in Leipzig will be equipped with the new system from mid -May 2025. According to the Kaufland, the multi-feed system enables a return up to five times faster compared to conventional machines, depending on the amount of the empties cast.

Florian Hermanski from Kaufland Germany emphasizes the advantages for customers who want to return larger amounts of empty. The new machines ensure that empty is automatically sorted, and a deposit bon is issued directly to the customer.

About Tomra Systems: A pioneer in return technology

The technology behind these machines comes from Tomra Systems, a Norwegian company that is a leader in the development of return machines for pledge bottles. Tomra has a market share of over 50 percent and is active in more than 80 countries with sales of over 1 billion euros in 2022. In addition to return systems, the company also works for the food industry and mining in sorting technology.

The foundation of Tomra goes back to the 1970s when the brothers Petter and Tore Planke developed the first automatic empty-up machine. This innovation spirit is still present today because Tomra invests in order to achieve the goal of at least 40 percent of all packaging materials worldwide by 2030.

in an increasingly competitive environment in which companies such as AMCS and Suez develop innovative technologies, Tomra remains a central player in the recycling industry due to his many years of experience and leading Position

Overall, the new developments in Kaufland and Tomra's technology reflect a growing conviction for innovation and sustainability in the field of resource use and utilization. This could be a crucial step to further promote the return and recycling of deposit bottles in Germany.