Whether it’s coffee or a midday snack: various packaging options are available to travellers at the station. The pilot project makes reusable packaging more easily accessible at the station and gathers practical feedback from travellers and catering outlets. At participating catering outlets, can receive food and drinks in RECUP cups and bowls in exchange for a deposit.
The aim of the pilot project is to make the use of reusable containers at the station as straightforward as possible and to assess how a standardised service proves its worth in everyday travel.
What’s happening in Freiburg?
Copy link to this sectionSince mid-January 2026, participating catering outlets at Freiburg Hauptbahnhof have been serving food and drinks in RECUP cups and bowls in exchange for a deposit.
- Participating businesses at the station: Café Bar Coucou, Le Crobag, dean&david, Haferkater, Gardenia sowie Schmitt & Hahn
- Further returns: at participating partner businesses in the RECUP reusable system
- Automatic return machine in the basement: Open from 5.00 am to 1.00 am
- Self-service return machine at Twenty 47: accessible round the clock via Platform 1
The project takes into account the statutory obligation to provide reusable alternatives and the packaging tax applicable in Freiburg for certain types of single-use packaging.
How does the system work?
Copy link to this sectionThe pilot project utilises the deposit-based reusable container system operated by RECUP GmbH. A deposit is charged when the reusable containers are issued. After use, the containers can be returned to participating businesses or at the designated return points. You can find further information about our partner RECUP here.
A trial is being conducted at Freiburg Hauptbahnhof to assess how a standardised reusable system can be used by passengers and implemented by the participating catering businesses. The findings will serve as a basis for evaluating possible further applications at railway stations.
With RECUP, drinks and food can be taken away in containers that are reused. The cups and bowls are designed for multiple uses and can subsequently be recycled. Those who use reusable items are choosing an alternative to single-use packaging. The specific environmental impact depends on actual usage and the number of times the items are reused.
Freiburg was selected as a pilot site. The project is taking place against the backdrop of the statutory requirement to provide reusable alternatives and the packaging tax on single-use packaging in force in Freiburg.
Participating catering establishments serve food and drink in RECUP cups or bowls in exchange for a deposit. After use, the containers can be returned to the designated return points. The deposit is refunded upon return.
The containers can be returned at participating outlets at the station and at other return points in the RECUP reusable system. For cups, there are, amongst other things, two return machines available at the station
The participants are Café Bar Coucou, Le Crobag, dean&david, Haferkater, Gardenia and Schmitt & Hahn. RECUP is the partner organisation.