Gas stations in Europe filling up with UNO

Prior to the UNO’s release in 2005, relatively few reverse vending machines were to be found at gas stations and small convenience stores.

The main reason for this was that the reverse vending solutions on the market were directed toward high volume return points, which often require complex and space-intensive installations.

In 2002, after completing extensive market research that showed that both small stores and their customers would welcome the convenience of an automated return system, TOMRA put its innovative  minds to work on coming up with an appropriate solution.

By the end of 2005 the result was ready, a highly compact yet versatile machine that could accept all types of containers – all for a highly economical price.

For Henrik Nyberg, District Manager of Q8 service stations in Denmark, the benefits of UNO are clear: “Our business concept focuses on providing a highly attractive retail environment where our customers have fast access to a varied assortment of both fresh food and other convenience items. The UNO fits perfectly into this concept by allowing us to the keep the sales counter, where we serve fresh food,  free of manual returns of empty beverage containers. When you consider that our average customer spends just 40 seconds in the store, it’s important that the counter is focused on completing sales transactions, not handling the return of beverage containers.

UNO is now an integrated part of our concept and we will be continuing with new installations throughout the year.”