5 min.
Denmark has a unique collection system that saves CO2
Text:
Karen Gahrn
Photo:
Erik Nylund
1. The production
The bottle is produced and sold to a beverage manufacturer who fills the bottle, prints a label with a GS1 barcode and registers it with Dansk Retursystem.
2. Sales.
The bottle is sold to the store, where a thirsty consumer is tempted and puts the bottle in the shopping cart. The barcode is used when the consumer pays. At the same time, a deposit is paid for the bottle.
3. Episodes
The empty bottle is delivered to the Danish Return System's bottle vending machine. Here, the barcode, deposit mark and the shape of the bottle are scanned (to prevent cheating with deposit marks).
4. Registration
Once the bottle has passed through the machine, it is registered by barcode and sorted into a bin (for plastic bottles or cans) or onto a table (for glass bottles).
5. The count
As all bottles are registered with a barcode in the reverse vending machine, Dansk Retursystem knows how many bottles and cans have been received in the reverse vending machine and therefore how many need to be collected.
6. Collection
The driver from Dansk Retursystem picks up the containers and takes them to one of Dansk Retursystem's two factories, where the bottles and cans are sorted into their respective material types (plastic, aluminum and glass) before being sent for recycling.
7. The rebirth
The so-called "reprocessors" melt aluminum, plastic and glass into new cans and bottles - and their lives begin anew.
INSPIRATION ABROAD
As a Dane, it's easy to forget that the Danish Return System was one of the first of its kind in the world when it was founded. Over two decades later, it is still easy to forget that a return system is not yet to be found in many of our neighboring countries.
GS1 Denmark notices the increasing demand for return deposit systems when GS1's sister offices contact GS1 Denmark for knowledge and sparring. For example, the Turkish Ministry of Environment has asked GS1 Turkey to map how GS1 standards support the return system in Denmark, with a view to establishing a similar system.
