CLUBZERØ

What CLUBZERØ does

CLUBZERØ is an AI-powered Reuse System administrator that enables food and beverage, FMCG, and retail companies to transition from single-use to reusable packaging. Founded in London circa 2016 (originally as CupClub, rebranded 2018) and operating across the UK, U.S., Singapore, and UAE, the company functions as an outsourced Reuse Scheme Administrator: it serializes each piece of packaging with QR codes, RFID, or barcodes meeting GS1 standards; coordinates product launches into reusable packaging; sets up drop point, DRS machine, kerbside, and app-based return infrastructure; and manages the full lifecycle from deployment through collection, cleaning, and redistribution via a network of trusted washing and logistics partners. Its core proprietary platform combines intelligent packaging serialization, drop-point integration, and real-time tracking dashboards that deliver usage analytics and feed regulatory documentation under UK EPR legislation, EU directives, and global frameworks. Two patents have been granted (U.S. and Singapore), the company has delivered 3.3M+ reusable packaging rotations with reported 95-98% return rates, and it claims up to 85% cost reduction versus single-use packaging and $250M in potential annual savings for the F&B industry.

The business model combines managed-services administration fees with subscription/recurring revenue for the reusable packaging assets themselves (Packaging-as-a-Service). Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting food service providers (Compass Group, Aramark, ISS, Baxterstorey), FMCG brands (Nestlé, McDonald's), food delivery platforms (Just Eat), retailers (John Lewis Partnership), events (Wimbledon, Expo City Dubai), and real estate developments (King's Cross). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Marketing relies on earned media (Forbes, Bloomberg, Fast Company, The Times), event-driven visibility (Wimbledon), and LinkedIn thought leadership, including policy-shaping work such as the Cardiff Reuse Roundtable for Wales' Digital DRS. The company has raised approximately £1.5-2M in equity and grant capital across eight funding events from 2017 through 2024, including a £3.2M UK Research and Innovation grant in 2023, and operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees.

CLUBZERØ's strategic positioning is anchored to regulatory tailwinds — most notably the UK single-use plastic ban effective October 2023 and parallel EU directives — which convert reusable packaging from a sustainability nice-to-have into a compliance requirement for large F&B operators. Its differentiators are the end-to-end administration model (relieving clients of operational complexity), shared infrastructure economics (washing, logistics, and drop points amortized across brands), GS1-compliant interoperability, and data assets from real-time tracking. Constraints include a small headcount relative to global ambitions, limited disclosed commercial revenue, and an "AI-powered" positioning that is not yet substantiated by named proprietary models, ML research, or AI-specific technical disclosures beyond smart tracking and analytics dashboards.

Name

CLUBZERØ

Legal name

CLUBZERØ

Website

https://clubzero.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CLUBZERØ is an AI-powered Reuse System administrator that helps food and beverage, FMCG, and retail companies transition from single-use to reusable packaging by managing serialization, drop-point infrastructure, washing, logistics, and compliance reporting across the UK, U.S., Singapore, and UAE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reusable Packaging & Circular Economy Services

NAICS

Packaging and Labeling Services (561910), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Reusable & Refill Packaging Systems (Returnable Packaging, Refill-at-Home/In-Store) (IMALAMAE), Reusable Packaging & Container Return Programs (On-site) (BPABALAJ), Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF), Foodservice & Hospitality Waste Services (Non-hazardous, Back-of-house) (EUAIAGAE)

Keywords

• Reusable packaging systems
• Circular economy services
• Packaging as a service
• Reuse scheme administration
• Food and beverage sustainability

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Reuse System Administration Services: CLUBZERØ acts as a Reuse Scheme Administrator, providing comprehensive services including packaging serialization, coordinating launches, setting up operations, and providing ongoing support. They manage the entire lifecycle of reusable packaging from deployment into circulation through collection, cleaning, and redistribution.
2. Packaging as a Service: Provides reusable packaging assets with intelligent tracking capabilities. Through their network of trusted washing and logistics partners, they power the Reuse System that works across on-trade, retail, and online channels.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CLUBZERØ operates an AI-powered Reuse System that enables the Food & Beverage industry to transition from single-use to reusable packaging. Acting as a Reuse Scheme Administrator, the company serializes packaging with QR codes, RFID, or barcodes, coordinates launches, sets up operations, and provides ongoing support across deployment, collection, cleaning, and redistribution. The platform integrates with drop points, DRS machines, and kerbside collections, delivering real-time tracking analytics and regulatory compliance for enterprise clients.

Product overview

CLUBZERØ is a single unified product — an AI-powered Reuse System for the Food & Beverage industry. The system enables businesses across on-trade (restaurants, bars, hospitality), online (supermarkets, food delivery), and retail (grocery stores) channels to transition from single-use to reusable packaging. The core platform includes intelligent packaging serialization (QR codes, RFID, barcodes) meeting GS1 standards, drop point infrastructure integration (DRS machines, kerbside collections, digital deposit return schemes), and real-time tracking with analytics dashboards for regulatory compliance. The platform powers the complete lifecycle of reusable packaging from deployment through collection, cleaning, and redistribution, with operational support for ongoing management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CLUBZERØ Reuse System End-to-end AI-powered reuse system for enterprise Food & Beverage clients that uniquely serializes each piece of reusable packaging (QR code, RFID, or barcode), coordinates launches, sets up collection and redistribution operations, and integrates with drop points, DRS machines, kerbside collections, and digital deposit return schemes. Real-time tracking dashboards deliver analytics on usage, environmental impact, and performance, with regulatory compliance support for UK EPR, EU directives, and global frameworks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 85% cost reduction vs single-use packaging
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Wimbledon (All England Club)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWimbledon partnered with evian and CLUBZERØ to provide reusable and refillable water options at the Championships, in a bid to curtail waste generation and minimise plastic usage.
• BarclaysflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarclays partnered with CLUBZERØ for a second time to serve ice cream in returnable pots at Wimbledon, cutting down on single-use waste as attendees wait to enter the Grounds.
• eviancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater brand partnered with Wimbledon and CLUBZERØ to provide refillable water options at the Championships, supporting sustainability initiatives.
• Just EatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJust Eat launched a trial scheme with CLUBZERØ's reusable packaging system to address the plastic mountain of half a billion takeaway containers discarded each year in London.
• King's CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKing's Cross welcomed CLUBZERØ as a sustainability initiative, providing an opportunity for food & drink outlets to be more sustainable and helping people reduce plastic use.
• John Lewis PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Lewis Partnership collaborated with CLUBZERØ (CupClub) through their JLab retail innovation programme dedicated to reducing plastic waste. Selected from over 100 applications.
• Washing and Logistics Partners NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLUBZERØ powers its Reuse System through a network of trusted washing and logistics partners, enabling seamless operations across on-trade, retail, and online channels.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DeliverZero: U.S.-based reusable food container service for restaurant takeout and delivery, mirroring CLUBZERØ's on-trade and online segments. Operates a similar deposit/refund model for returnable foodware.
• Muuse: Smart reusable cup platform with serialized tracking and shared return infrastructure, operating across Asia-Pacific and Europe. Directly comparable to CLUBZERØ's intelligent packaging and drop-point model.
• Reposit: UK-based reusable food container service for restaurants and takeaways. Operates in the same geography and on-trade segment as CLUBZERØ with a comparable return-logistics model.
• Returnity Innovations: Provider of reusable packaging and shipping containers with tracking technology. Comparable to CLUBZERØ's serialized reusable asset model across retail and logistics use cases.
• Algramo: Chile-headquartered reusable packaging platform serving FMCG and food brands with intelligent refill systems at retail. Closest direct competitor in the reusable-packaging-as-a-service model targeting enterprise CPG and F&B customers.
• Bivouac: Reusable cup platform for coffee shops with deposit-return mechanics, operating in multiple European markets. Direct competitor in the on-trade reusable cup segment.
• Husk: Reusable coffee cup system serving corporate offices and F&B venues in Europe. Competes with CLUBZERØ in the corporate cup-reuse niche, with similar washing-partner infrastructure model.

Emerging players

• ReCircle: Indian reusable packaging platform focused on F&B delivery and on-trade venues. Comparable service model — reusable assets with collection, washing, and redistribution — addressing similar regulatory and waste-reduction drivers.

Broad incumbents

• Loop (TerraCycle): TerraCycle's Loop operates a global reusable packaging platform with major CPG brand participation. A broader incumbent with deeper capital, more extensive brand relationships, and a stronger consumer-retail focus than CLUBZERØ.

Regional players

• Revolv: Norway-based provider of reusable packaging solutions for food retail and takeaway. Operates a comparable deposit-and-return model in the Nordic region, where it overlaps with CLUBZERØ's European market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/pulse/cardiff-reuse-roundtable-building-wales-digital-drs-clubzero-london-o3vje?trackingId=e2nW56vVQjCz4KnnQwChzg%3D%3D

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors7 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 CLUBZERØ