RECUP

What RECUP does

RECUP GmbH is a Munich-based circular-economy company operating Germany's largest reusable packaging deposit system for the gastronomy sector. Founded in 2017 by Fabian Eckert and Florian Pachaly (with Clemens Pech as co-founder), the company offers two core physical product lines — RECUP reusable polypropylene (PP) cups in four sizes (0.2l–0.5l) rated for ~1,000 dishwasher cycles, and REBOWL reusable PP bowls in four variants rated for ~500 cycles — plus a deposit-based lid (Pfanddeckel). The system runs on a simple €1 cup / €5 bowl deposit model that does not require consumer app registration, with automated 24/7 return machines and a consumer mobile app supporting the network.

The business is monetized through monthly subscription fees (Nutzungsbeitrag) paid by gastronomy partners, with pricing varying by contract duration and partner size (averaging ~€1/day for small partners) and supplemented by retained deposits on unreturned containers. Distribution combines a self-serve partner portal (partner.recup.de) for SMB onboarding with dedicated sales outreach for enterprise accounts in corporate catering (BMW, Volkswagen, Deutsche Bahn Gastronomie, Sodexo, Compass Group, AXA), fuel retail (Aral, Shell, TotalEnergies, Westfalen), transit hubs (Janova, HBB), bakeries (3,000+), and municipalities. The network spans ~20,000 partner outlets across Germany plus a recent Austrian expansion anchored by Tchibo's 120 Coffeebars.

RECUP leverages structural regulatory tailwinds — Germany's mandatory reusable packaging requirement (Mehrwegangebotspflicht, effective January 2023) and municipal packaging taxes — to convert compliance demand into partner adoption. The company holds B Corp certification and the 2024 German Sustainability Award (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis), raised €12 million in May 2022, and has grown to 80+ employees. Its technology stack centers on IoT-enabled reverse logistics (smart vending and return machines, partner portal, mobile app for consumer-facing discovery) rather than AI/ML, with the operational moat rooted in network density and regulatory positioning.

Name

RECUP

Legal name

RECUP GmbH

Website

https://recup.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reusable Packaging Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920)

akta.pro primary industry

Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reusable Packaging & Container Return Programs (On-site) (BPABALAJ), Reuse & Resale / Recommerce Operations (EUAIANAC), Recommerce, Trade-In & Buyback Collection (TLAAALAM)

Keywords

• Reusable packaging system
• Deposit-based cups
• Circular economy service
• Gastronomy reusable solutions
• To-go packaging network

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Monthly Subscription Fee (Nutzungsbeitrag): Partners pay a fixed monthly fee to access the RECUP/REBOWL deposit system. The fee varies based on contract duration and business size, independent of the number of cups/bowls ordered. Average cost cited as approximately €1 per day for small gastronomy partners. The deposit for cups (€1) and bowls (€5) is a pass-through cost for partners.
2. Deposit Pass-through: Partners borrow cups and bowls from RECUP by paying a refundable deposit (€1 per RECUP/RECUP lid, €5 per REBOWL including lid). They then charge the same deposit to customers. The deposit is a cost-neutral pass-through for partners; RECUP retains the deposit when products are not returned or are damaged.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

RECUP operates Germany's largest reusable packaging deposit system for the gastronomy sector. The company provides reusable polypropylene cups (RECUP, €1 deposit) and reusable food bowls (REBOWL, €5 deposit) that partners borrow from RECUP against a refundable deposit and then pass to end consumers. Consumers return the containers at any of approximately 20,000 partner outlets across Germany to reclaim their deposit. Partners pay a fixed monthly subscription fee (Nutzungsbeitrag) to access the system.

Product overview

RECUP is Germany's largest reusable packaging system for the food service industry, operating a deposit-based circular economy model. The core product portfolio consists of RECUP (reusable to-go beverage cups in 4 sizes: 0.2l, 0.3l, 0.4l, 0.5l) and REBOWL (reusable to-go food bowls in 4 variants: large 1100ml, divider 590ml+320ml, small 550ml, tall lid 550ml), both made from Polypropylene. Add-on products include the RECUP Pfanddeckel (deposit lid) compatible with all cup sizes. The system is supported by a nationwide partner network of approximately 20,000 partner locations, a consumer/partner mobile app, and automated return machines for business customers. Partners include restaurants, bakeries, corporate canteens, gas stations, and municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REBOWL: A reusable bowl product line under the RECUP system, available in multiple sizes (1100ml, 590ml+320ml with divider, 550ml, 550ml with high lid). Used for take-away food including soups, salads, curries, and pasta dishes. Each REBOWL withstands approximately 500 wash cycles and is BPA-free and 100% recyclable.

Products and services

• RECUP Mehrwegbecher (Reusable Cup) Reusable to-go beverage cup made from 100% recyclable Polypropylene, available in four sizes (0.2l, 0.3l, 0.4l, 0.5l), rated for approximately 1,000 dishwasher cycles, BPA-free, stackable, food-safe, and microwave-safe (without lid). Borrowed against a €1 deposit at any of ~20,000 partner outlets across Germany. Designed for gastronomy businesses serving coffee, tea, and other beverages to-go.
• REBOWL Mehrwegschalen (Reusable Bowl) Reusable to-go food bowl made from 100% recyclable Polypropylene, available in four variants (1100ml large, 590ml+320ml with divider, 550ml small, 550ml with high lid), rated for approximately 500 dishwasher cycles, leak-proof, freezer-stable, and microwave-safe without lid. Borrowed against a €5 deposit at RECUP/REBOWL partner outlets. Designed for restaurants, canteens, and food service operators serving meals to-go.
• RECUP Pfanddeckel (Deposit Lid) Deposit lid (€1) compatible with all RECUP cup sizes from 0.2l to 0.5l, made in Germany from 100% recyclable Polypropylene, BPA-free, dishwasher-safe for approximately 500 wash cycles, and heat-resistant up to 95°C. Enables spill-safe transport of to-go beverages across the RECUP network.
• RECUP Rücknahmeautomaten (Automated Return Machines) Automated 24/7 return stations that handle up to 500 RECUPs and 250 REBOWLs per machine, with deposit payout via cash, vouchers, or employee cards. Designed for corporate canteens, large venues, and high-traffic locations where round-the-clock return is required without staffing burden.
• RECUP Partner Network (Deposit Return Network) Germany-wide deposit return network spanning approximately 20,000 partner locations where RECUP cups and REBOWL bowls can be returned to reclaim the deposit. Accessible via the RECUP app and the online partner map. Provides the portability that distinguishes the system from location-bound return models.

Quantifiable outcome

• Each RECUP replaces up to ~1,000 single-use cups over its lifetime; each REBOWL replaces up to ~500 single-use bowls
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• JanovacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 June 2026Janova operates gastronomy locations at railway stations, airports, and public transit hubs across Germany. Partnership started May/June 2026 with multiple locations. Aims to bring Mehrweg (reusable packaging) to Germany's 27 million daily public transit users as a standard offering.
• HBB (Hochbahn-Bistro-Betriebsgesellschaft)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 June 2026HBB operates gastronomy at public transit hubs in Germany. Partnership launched May/June 2026 with ~92 locations across Germany, targeting the daily commuter audience for to-go beverages and food.
• Duni Group / RelevoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Large-scale circular reuse system at Munich's Viktualienmarkt (~22,000 sqm, ~130 vendors, ~5M annual visitors). The five-year ReMuc 'Ois im Kreis' pilot enables reusable cups and bowls with automated 24/7 return machines handling over 2 million returns per year. Duni Group's brand Relevo provides the digital and scalable reuse infrastructure; RECUP provides cups and bowls as part of the unified system. This is a model for scaling circular solutions in other urban food environments.
• TchibocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 February 2026After a successful trial in 50 Tchibo Coffeebars, RECUP is being rolled out across all 120 Tchibo Coffeebars in Austria. Tchibo is the first coffeehouse chain in Austria to adopt an external reusable packaging system nationwide. This partnership significantly expands RECUP's footprint into the Austrian market.
• Märkte München (Munich Markets)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026Pilot project 'ReMuc – Ois im Kreis' at Viktualienmarkt, Munich's largest outdoor food market. First unified reusable packaging system at the market with automated 24/7 return machines. The project is supported by the City of Munich, aligns with EU packaging waste regulations, and serves as a model for other urban food environments and public transit hubs in Germany.
• Stadt Tübingen (Tübingen Municipality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTübingen pioneered municipal packaging tax on single-use to-go containers, with the German Federal Constitutional Court confirming its legality in January 2025. RECUP serves as the preferred reusable alternative for Tübingen's gastronomy businesses, reducing single-use waste in alignment with the tax.
• Stadt Landau (Landau Municipality)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandau municipality partnered with RECUP to reduce street litter and support local gastronomy with reusable packaging. Quote from Dr. Maximilian Ingenthron, Bürgermeister: ~4,000 RECUP cups in circulation as a key milestone for city cleanliness and resource protection.
• Stadt Augsburg (Augsburg Municipality)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugsburg city partnership to support resource conservation and waste avoidance through RECUP/REBOWL adoption among local gastronomy. Quote from Reiner Erben, Umweltreferent.
• Stadt Stuttgart (Stuttgart Municipality)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStuttgart city partnership with 132 RECUP/REBOWL partner locations as of the cited source, aiming to progressively eliminate single-use packaging waste from the city center. Project led by Elias Henrich.
• WMG Wolfsburg (Wolfsburg Marketing GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWolfsburg was among the first RECUP partner cities in 2017, adding REBOWL in 2021. The city has saved over 1.5 million disposable cups through its local reusable packaging strategy. WMG works continuously to advance the Mehrweg topic and create a cleaner, more sustainable city center.
• Greifswald Marketing GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreifswald city partnership to introduce RECUP/REBOWL to local gastronomy, creating a win-win-win for the city, RECUP, and local businesses. Quote from Maik Wittenbecher, Geschäftsführer.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Relevo (Duni Group): Relevo operates a competing reusable cup and bowl deposit-return system in Germany, owned by the listed Swedish packaging group Duni. It directly competes with RECUP for the same gastronomy and enterprise customers using a similar deposit mechanic.
• FairCup: FairCup is a German reusable cup deposit system that targets the same gastronomy customers as RECUP, offering multi-vessel compatibility and a return network across Germany. It is one of RECUP's closest direct competitors in the DACH market.
• Vytal: Vytal is a German-founded digital reusable container network for restaurants and take-away, using an app-based deposit mechanic. It competes with RECUP/REBOWL in the foodservice reusable-packaging space, especially with restaurants and food delivery operators.
• Muuse: Muuse operates a global reusable-cup sharing platform that enables cafés to offer branded reusable cups on a deposit basis. It is comparable to RECUP in product category and target customer (cafés and coffee chains) but operates primarily outside Germany.

Emerging players

• CupClub: CupClub is a UK-based reusable-cup service using a deposit-and-return model with tracked, IoT-tagged cups. It overlaps with RECUP in reusable cup deposit mechanics and target customer (cafés, coffee chains) but focuses on the UK and selected European cities.
• Again (Denmark): Again is a Danish reusable-cup and packaging system using a deposit mechanic and digital return infrastructure. It targets the same foodservice customer base as RECUP but operates primarily in Denmark and the Nordics.
• Huskee: Huskee designs and sells reusable coffee cups made from recycled materials to cafés and coffee chains globally. It overlaps with RECUP in product (reusable to-go cups) and customer (cafés), but is product-led rather than a deposit-network operator.

Regional players

• Bumerang (Spain): Bumerang operates a reusable-cup deposit-return system in Spain and several southern European markets. It uses a comparable deposit mechanic and foodservice customer focus as RECUP but serves a different geography, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• ALPLA Werke Lehner: ALPLA is a global plastics packaging manufacturer with a growing portfolio of reusable and circular packaging solutions for foodservice. It competes with RECUP broadly through scale, sustainability offerings and enterprise relationships, though reusable deposit systems are not its core business.
• Huhtamäki: Huhtamäki is a listed global food packaging group with foodservice and sustainable-packaging divisions. It overlaps with RECUP in food-to-go packaging and is investing in reusable/circular alternatives, representing a large incumbent that could enter RECUP's niche at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/recup2go
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recupgmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/recup_de
• TikToktiktok.com/@recup_de
• Xx.com/recup2go

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RECUP