Nearly 43,000 reusable cups were returned through Smart DRS automated return stations at LOVESTREAM Festival in Bratislava, with Mastercard supporting near-instant deposit refunds to payment cards via Mastercard Move.
More than 100,000 visitors attended LOVESTREAM Festival over three days, with Robbie Williams and David Guetta among the headliners. Across the festival site, nine Smart DRS Dual return stations provided 18 return points for reusable cups. The stations processed 21,474 return transactions, with visitors returning an average of around two cups per transaction.
The deployment combined Smart DRS automated reusable cup return technology with Mastercard payment infrastructure to make the deposit refund process simple for festival visitors. After inserting an eligible reusable cup, visitors tapped a payment card, mobile phone or smartwatch and the €3 deposit was then refunded to their payment card. No app, registration or QR-code scanning was required. AI-powered visual recognition automatically verified eligible festival cups.
Reusable cup returns with Mastercard Move
The LOVESTREAM deployment was supported by Mastercard. The Smart DRS solution leverages Mastercard Move to enable a near-instant deposit refund to a payment card, allowing visitors to access their funds quickly, securely and conveniently. The collaboration shows how payment technology can become part of reusable packaging infrastructure: the same familiar payment card used by a visitor can also support a fast and intuitive deposit-refund experience.
“Smart DRS machines are a great example of how the best innovations are not always the most visible or attention-grabbing. Instead, they work naturally, solve real-life needs, and genuinely make everyday life easier. For festival visitors, getting their deposit back on their payment card within seconds makes returning cups convenient and helps make more sustainable choices easier to adopt. This also demonstrates how contactless technologies are evolving beyond the payment itself and supporting everyday experiences with greater convenience, speed, and security,” said Jana Lvová, General Manager of Mastercard for Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Built for large-scale event reuse
At LOVESTREAM, each Smart DRS Dual station was equipped with two return slots and two payment terminals. The distributed setup gave visitors access to automated cup returns across the festival area and helped handle concentrated return demand during busy periods. The return stations can also be visually adapted to a specific event, venue or commercial partner, allowing reusable packaging infrastructure to fit naturally into the event environment.
“We wanted visitors to spend as little time as possible thinking about returning their cups and as much time as possible enjoying the festival. The automated return stations worked very well in this respect – the process was quick, simple and intuitive. Nearly 43,000 cups returned is a great result for us and, above all, a strong indication that visitors embraced this way of returning their cups naturally,” said Erika Barkolova, LOVESTREAM Festival Manager.
Simple for visitors, measurable for organizers
For organizers, automated reusable cup returns reduce the need for dedicated staff to receive cups, process refunds and handle cash. Smart DRS also provides digital data on return volumes, transactions and peak periods, giving venue operators greater visibility into how visitors use the reuse system.
The LOVESTREAM deployment adds to Smart DRS experience across festivals, sports events and other high-traffic venues. Rather than duplicating the detailed operational analysis, the full LOVESTREAM case study examines return patterns, peak periods, station placement and the performance of the reusable cup return system across the three-day festival.
About Smart DRS
Smart DRS develops technology for the automated collection of reusable and deposit-bearing packaging. Its reusable packaging solutions combine automated recognition, return infrastructure and payment integration to make cup returns fast and convenient for visitors while providing organizers with measurable return data.
