Aucxis STAR Enables RFID Reusable Cups at Belgian Football Stadium
This Impinj partner's RAIN RFID-based sustainability solution has helped a Belgian sports team transition to reusable beverage cups, fulfilling an EU directive.
Meeting a sustainability mandate with RAIN RFID
When the European Commission’s Single-Use Plastics (SUP) directive took effect in 2023, it signaled the start of a sea change for football teams throughout Europe. The phased directive prohibits the use of nearly a dozen single-use plastic items — including beverage cups used by fans at sports stadiums throughout the EU. To comply, organizations like Belgium’s Royal Antwerp Football Club would have to find an alternative to the 1.6 million single-use plastic beverage cups dispensed at its home stadium every year — or face stiff financial sanctions.
To comply with the mandate, RAFC turned to Impinj partner Aucxis for a RAIN RFID-based solution that not only keeps beverages flowing, but exceeds the SUP directive’s cup-reuse requirements by nearly 10%.
Track, reuse, and refund with RAIN RFID
Aucxis’ STAR (Sustainable Tracking of Assets for Reuse) track-and-trace sustainability solution uses RAIN RFID to help keep millions of disposable cups out of landfills every year. It uses a system of Impinj RAIN RFID tag chips, readers, and reader chips — along with STAR and third-party point-of-sale software — to enable football fans to quickly and seamlessly pay for drinks, return their reusable cups, and receive their deposit refund automatically.
Here’s how it works:
- RAIN RFID tag chips, each containing a unique identification number, are embedded into the base of deSter reusable plastic beverage cups at the manufacturer.
- At Bosuilstadion stadium in Antwerp, Belgium, a customer uses a bank card to purchase a drink and pay a deposit for the corresponding beverage cup using the Aucxis STAR RFID solution. The purchase includes a deposit, which is refunded if the customer returns the reusable cup.
- After payment, a countertop Impinj RAIN RFID reader reads the tag embedded in the cup and automatically links that cup to the buyer's payment card.
- After finishing their beverage, the customer brings their empty cup to a collection point, where another Impinj RAIN RFID reader registers the cup as returned as it slides down a collection chute. Because RAIN RFID doesn’t require direct line-of-sight and readers can read multiple tagged items simultaneously, cups can be stacked and returned all at once, speeding up the drop-off process.
- Aucxis RFID software captures the cup’s data and sends it to the Weezevent point-of-sale system, which — together with payment provider Adyen — ensures the deposit is refunded correctly to the linked card.
- The returned cup is transported to a washing station, where more Impinj RAIN RFID readers perform quality control checks before the cup is made available for the next event.
Award-winning solution sets bar for sustainability
RAFC has been using STAR to track reusable beverage cups since 2023, and the Aucxis and Impinj solution was recognized as the Sustainability Initiative of the Year at the European Stadium and Safety Management Association’s 2024 Stadium Industry Awards.
Benefits of the RAIN RFID solution include:
Significant reduction in plastic waste
Aucxis STAR has helped RAFC not only meet but exceed the EU’s single-use plastics directive. An average of 98% of cups are returned at the end of each match, well above the 90% return rate the directive requires.
Fast payments and fair refunds
RAIN RFID makes purchasing beverages and returning empty cups quick and easy. Impinj RAIN RFID readers at serving counters read tagged cups quickly no matter how many beverages are being purchased. And since the STAR solution automatically associates cups with the purchaser’s bank card, there’s no question who receives the deposit — no matter who returns the cups.
Speedy and efficient return process
Impinj RAIN RFID readers installed at drop-off points can read multiple cups at once, even if cups are stacked or fed into the chute in quick succession, minimizing lines and reducing time spent waiting to drop off.
Access to actionable data
RAIN RFID allows administrators access to cup data via a dashboard in the STAR software, delivering insights such as at which specific stations the cups were purchased and dropped off, number of washes, and use patterns. This information can be used to check inventory levels, replace cups due to wear and tear, identify high-volume drop-off stations, and more.
RAIN RFID: Helping reduce waste across industries
The Aucxis STAR solution is a prime example of how RAIN RFID can be used to meet regulatory mandates and enable sustainability. The solution also represents a revolution of sorts for the sporting events industry by reducing wait times at bars, increasing beverage sales, and minimizing post-event clean-up efforts. The STAR solution is already finding success with a second football club, RSC Anderlecht, as well as at cycling events in Belgium.
Retailers and manufacturers of products sold in the EU, are considering RAIN RFID as they prepare for upcoming Digital Product Passport regulations. And enterprises around the world turn to RAIN RFID and the Impinj platform to fine-tune delivery and shipment systems, manage inventory, and track items throughout supply chains, reduce waste, and enable responsible material use.
Aucxis and the Impinj Partner Network
Learn more about Aucxis and its RAIN RFID-enabled STAR solution, and read how Impinj and the Impinj Partner Network can help enterprises in any industry drive sustainability efforts with RAIN RFID.
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Wednesday, February 26, 2025
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Aucxis
As an independent RFID supplier and integrator, we define, develop, and integrate the most suitable RFID solutions for your automation projects.
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Impinj products deliver connectivity for this solution
Tag Chips
Impinj RAIN RFID tag chips provide unique identifiers and enable smart, connected things (endpoints)
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Readers
Impinj RAIN RFID readers are smart edge devices that identify and locate connected things
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