New Loop partners with Mastercard to enable seamless payments for a reusable takeaway packaging return system

Mastercard and New Loop have introduced digital payment features that make returning and reusing takeaway packaging faster and simpler. With Mastercard Move, consumers can tap their Mastercard and automatically receive their deposit when they return reusable packaging.

The initiative, powered by Mastercard Move, marks a major step toward a circular economy by making reuse simple, secure, and rewarding. In partnership with New Loop, a Danish reuse system provider, and the municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, the cities have launched one of the world’s first dual-capital Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) for reusable packaging. 

With around 55 billion takeaway packages used each year in Europe, accelerating reuse is essential. New Loop’s system supports this shift by providing the infrastructure needed for reusable takeaway packaging, making reuse practical and appealing for both outlets and consumers.

Mastercard Move enabling seamless deposit returns 

Customers purchasing takeaway food or drinks in reusable containers pay a deposit of 5 DKK. When the packaging is returned to one of more than 54 Reverse Vending Machines across Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, the deposit is returned via Mastercard Move. Through this partnership with New Loop and the municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, Mastercard is helping accelerate the shift from disposable to reusable packaging by simplifying how consumers receive their deposits.

Mastercard Move is an integrated digital infrastructure that enables cardholders to get their deposit back quickly and simply via card or mobile wallet, creating a seamless, cash-free experience. Mastercard has been a key partner in making this possible through Mastercard Move, its portfolio of money movement capabilities that help make deposit returns fast, convenient and intuitive. By removing friction at the point of return, Mastercard Move helps make reusable packaging as effortless for consumers as today’s single-use, disposable options.

"At Mastercard, we believe technology can be a powerful enabler of environmentally conscious choices. By making it easy and near real-time for people to get their deposits back, we’re removing barriers to reuse and helping Copenhagen and Frederiksberg take a bold step toward a circular future. This initiative shows how fintech and digital payments can support cleaner, less wasteful cities and empower consumers to make choices that benefit both them and the planet," says Erik Gutwasser, Division President, Mastercard Northern Europe.

New Loop’s mission

Several well-known businesses and coffee chains, including TorvehallerneKBH, Kontra Coffee, and Original Coffee, are already participating, with more businesses set to join in the coming months. Packaging begins with a joint identity but can be customized with a participating brand’s identity once they commit to the system.

The system covers cups for hot drinks and glasses for cold beverages, with bowls and trays to follow soon. New Loop’s circular packaging is made from ISCC PLUS–certified bio-circular material, produced from mixed feedstock and residue streams derived from vegetable oil refining and processing.  

This approach reduces fossil resource extraction making this one of the most resource- and CO₂-efficient reuse deployments in the market today. Deposits can be redeemed by anyone if packaging is left behind, strongly encouraging anyone to return.

"At New Loop, our mission is to reuse the easy choice for everyone. By partnering with Mastercard and the cities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg, we’re proving that circular systems can work at scale - not just for a single café, but across an entire capital region. Together, we’re showing how smart technology and simple everyday actions can dramatically reduce single-use waste in streets, parks and nature, and help cities move toward a truly circular future," says Anders Barsøe, CEO, New Loop.

Mette Ranfelt, Chief Environmental Policy Adviser at the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, welcomes the fact that citizens in the capital region now have the opportunity to contribute to greater reuse of take-away packaging.

“Plastic packaging used for take away is a major problem and makes up around half of all the waste found in the ocean. With political will, we can introduce return systems for many more types of packaging, creating a more sustainable, circular system instead of the current use-and-discard culture. This pilot scheme is an important step in that direction,” says Mette Ranfelt.

A global benchmark 
The Copenhagen and Frederiksberg launch builds on the success of Denmark’s first DRS in Aarhus in 2024, demonstrating how digital payments and circular economy design can scale from local pilots to capital-wide systems. With more than 54 return stations launched by spring 2026, the two municipalities are positioning themselves as global leaders in fintech and circular economy innovation - showing how cities, businesses, and technology providers can collaborate to move beyond single-use and create scalable, sustainable solutions.

This pioneering reuse initiative builds on Copenhagen's leadership in sustainable urban innovation. The city's collaboration with Mastercard and Donkey Republic demonstrates how digital payments can enable more sustainable living. By integrating seamless Tap and Ride payment solutions with bike-sharing systems, Copenhagen makes more environmentally conscious micro-mobility more accessible for residents and visitors, advancing Denmark's vision for a sustainable future.