柏林推行咖啡杯押金系统，如何让环保变生意
Every morning, Berlin’s busy commuters grab a coffee to go, but behind this daily ritual lies a growing mountain of waste. The German capital adopted an innovative solution: a city-wide reusable cup network that charges a small deposit, combining environmental awareness with a sharp business instinct. Instead of tossing paper cups after a single use, customers now pay an extra euro or two as a deposit, which they reclaim when the cup is returned to any participating café. This simple shift has quietly built a new circular economy in the heart of Europe’s startup scene.
The system, powered by a local startup called KreislaufBecher, works through a shared infrastructure. Participating cafés display a logo in their windows, and customers order their drink in a sturdy polypropylene cup designed for at least 500 uses. After finishing, they can drop the cup into any partner café’s collection bin, which instantly triggers a refund via a mobile app or cash. Because the network spans over 800 locations—from independent roasters to bakery chains—it fits seamlessly into daily routines without forcing consumers to carry the same cup all day.
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