PLUG-AND-PLAY 2 ZERO-WASTE: Cleaning Infrastructure for Reusables in combination with Bio-based Cups & Mobile Application
Name of Technology: PLUG-AND-PLAY 2 ZERO-WASTE
Related REMEDIES Pillars: Prevention and Zero-Waste Solutions
Partner(s)/Owner(s): Alchemia-nova Greece
Other Partners Involved: ANGR (Solution Provider: closed-loop cleaning infrastructure for reusables as a service), Bio-Mi (Research partner: material development), AITIIP (Technical partner: injection molding ), CIBOS (IT partner: mobile application), NTUA (Scientific partner: water quality monitoring & evaluation).
Made for: Beverage suppliers, festival and event organizers, cultural managers, sponsors, venue operators, municipalities, resorts, campsites, water-stressed locations, and islands.
What is the PLUG-AND-PLAY 2 ZERO-WASTE?
This innovative solution is a novel system designed to eliminate single-use plastic waste at festivals and tourist destinations. The model integrates a sustainable cleaning infrastructure with bio-based, reusable cups and glass bottles to support reuse onsite and sustainable alternatives towards zero-waste.
Developed as part of the REMEDIES project the innovation targets high-waste areas introducing practical, scalable solutions for event sustainability. The technologies provide an efficient model to facilitate reuse on-site offering event-specific customization options and seamless integration into existing event logistics to ensure broad applicability across the hospitality and entertainment sectors.
The demonstrators focus on the 0.5L beer glass, which research has shown to be the most frequently discarded item, responsible for over 70% of event-generated waste, and the plastic 0.5L water bottle, which is a massive polluter at tourism hotspots and water stress destinations across the Mediterranean Sea basin.
Impact: What Challenges Does This Technology Address?
Current resource consumption levels at Festivals, tourism hotspots, and outdoor gatherings are unsustainable, as is the amount of waste produced. This technology directly tackles several key challenges:
- Infrastructure and Logistics: Many festivals and tourist hubs lack the facilities and infrastructural capacity to support smooth reuse and efficient integration with existing event logistics.
- Financial Costs: Reuse systems interventions require initial investment preventing operators and organizers opt for more sustainable options.
- Consumer Behavior: Encouraging attendees to return reusable cups remains a challenge in large.
- Stakeholder Coordination: Successful implementation requires collaboration between vendors, sponsors, organizers, and waste management entities.
By addressing these challenges, PLUG AND PLAY 2 ZERO WASTE suggests a sustainable solution to reduce the environmental footprint of both large-scale festivals and a wide range of seasonal operations.
The PLUG AND PLAY 2 ZERO WASTE is a large-scale project inviting relevant stakeholders for a joint strategy across the Mediterranean Sea basin. The demonstrator for high-traffic venues will be launched at the Sea Star Festival Demo Site, while a small-scale prototype will be introduced to Mykonos, Greece to facilitate reuse at beach-bar operations both aligning with the third pillar of the REMEDIES program — Prevention and Zero-Waste Solutions.
Unique Value Proposition: What Makes This Technology Stand Out?
The PLUG-AND-PLAY 2 ZERO-WASTE solution provides a scalable, circular system for reducing plastic waste at events and in high-traffic venues. Key advantages include:
- Scalability & Flexibility: The system is adaptable to different event sizes and industry-specific needs, ensuring broad applicability across the hospitality and entertainment sectors.
- Circular Design: The holistic approach covers the collection, cleaning, and redistribution of reusable cups and bottles, minimizing environmental impact.
- Smart Monitoring & Transparency: Users and businesses can track material cycles, reuse rates, and environmental impact through an intuitive app and web platform.
- Customization & Accessibility: Designed to ease integration, the system accelerates the transition toward zero-waste by providing event-specific customization options and bringing together all relevant stakeholders for a joint strategy.
By integrating cleaning infrastructure with sustainable, bio-based alternatives, this solution accelerates the transition to reuse-driven models in the event industry.
Technical Characteristics
- Plug-and-play Reusables Cleaning Infrastructure: resource-efficient decentralized cleaning infrastructures for consistent, safe, and hygienic reuse onsite. The two systems feature nature-based solutions to close the water cycle while treating grey water after use with user-friendly devices to adjust water quality and safety. Capable of cleaning and sanitizing efficiently over 2,000 items per hour with vertECO® technology and up to 500 items using GRETA®.
- Reusable Cups: 0.5L biobased-biodegradable cups for beer, designed for over 100 uses, dishwasher safe, recyclable, made by bio-polyesters, EE 10/2011.
- Reusable Bottles: 0.3L glass bottles, ISO 22000 TÜV HELLAS.
- UX/UI Smart Tracking: The system uses NFC/QR/Barcode scanning for user identification, performance tracking, and integration with business operations, enabling real-time monitoring and management.
Exploitation Pathway: How Will This Technology Be Put Into Action?
The adoption and expansion of PLUG AND PLAY 2 ZERO WASTE will follow several strategic pathways:
- Leasing Model: Event organizers can lease the system tailored to their needs, offering flexibility in implementation.
- Investment in Reuse Systems: Businesses and municipalities investing in circular economy infrastructure can integrate this system for long-term sustainability.
- Promotion & Advisory Services: Case studies will be developed to attract investment and provide consultancy on effective reuse models.
- Scalable Deployment: The system can be expanded to new locations based on demand, enabling broader adoption across different industries.
Through these pathways, PLUG AND PLAY 2 ZERO WASTE aims to revolutionize sustainable event management offering opportunities to a diverse range of stakeholders to leverage the system to meet reduction goals while maintaining high operational efficiency.
User: Who Can Benefit from This Technology?
The PLUG-AND-PLAY 2 ZERO-WASTE caters to a diverse range of stakeholders, including B2B and B2C users:
- Beverage Suppliers & Event Organizers: Ensuring compliance with sustainable practices and reducing event-related waste.
- Cultural Managers & Venue Operators: Implementing reuse systems to enhance sustainability efforts.
- Municipalities & Expo Organizers: Supporting local zero-waste initiatives and green infrastructure development.
- Festival Attendees & Tourists: Providing plastic-free alternatives for large-scale events.
By facilitating widespread adoption, this solution supports the global transition toward sustainable packaging and waste management in the hospitality and entertainment industries.
Stay tuned!
Explore the Marketplace Page for the PLUG-AND-PLAY 2 ZERO-WASTE: Cleaning Infrastructure for Reusables in combination with Bio-based Cups & Mobile Application – available soon!
Watch the Technology Presentation of YouTube – available soon!
