volta: The brand that gives value and new life to bottles and cans in Portugal

It is called volta, and it is the brand of the Deposit Return System (DRS), which will be implemented in Portugal on 10 April. From this date onwards, plastic, metal and aluminium bottles and cans with a capacity of up to 3 litres – identified by the volta symbol – will become part of a dedicated recycling system.

By returning packaging to volta Collection Points, available in supermarkets and hypermarkets across the country, to volta Kiosks or to one of the thousands of planned manual collection points, consumers will receive a refund of the deposit paid at the time of purchase. Through this simple action, they will help ensure that packaging is given a new life. Under the slogan “The future has a v for volta“, the brand was presented to the public on Wednesday, 4 March.

With volta, every action counts. The brand places consumers at the heart of the circular economy through a highly innovative and technologically advanced waste management model dedicated exclusively to single-use beverage packaging. This system enables the individual tracking of each item of packaging and ensures the high quality of recycled materials. As a result, with volta, a bottle can become a bottle again, and a can can become a can again.

The new brand has an ambitious objective: to help Portugal achieve the European Union’s target of collecting 90% of single-use beverage packaging by 2029.

“volta was created to engage all Portuguese people in a simple action with a very real impact. We want returning a bottle or a can to become part of everyday routines, with the understanding that this action has value — for each individual and for the country. That is precisely what volta represents: turning an everyday habit into a tangible contribution towards a more sustainable future,” says Leonardo Mathias, President of SDR Portugal, the organisation responsible for managing and implementing the system nationwide.

The first phase of the communication campaign will launch on 5 March, aiming to introduce the system and raise awareness of volta among all consumers through informative and educational messages that encourage collective participation. The integrated strategy includes television, radio, in-store media, digital platforms, branded content, influencer marketing, roadshows at Collection Points and media relations.

How does volta work?

When purchasing a beverage, consumers are charged a deposit of €0.10, which is refunded when the packaging is returned in the required condition. volta reverse vending machines recognise eligible bottles and cans – made of plastic, aluminium or metal, with a capacity of up to 3 litres – and allow the deposit to be refunded in several ways: through a voucher redeemable for cash, a discount voucher at the point of sale, credit added to a loyalty card, or other digital solutions currently under development. Alternatively, the deposit can be donated to charitable organisations.

Where are volta Collection Points located?

From 10 April, approximately 2,500 volta reverse vending machines will be available in supermarkets and hypermarkets throughout Portugal, collecting packaging one item at a time.

In urban areas with a higher concentration of HORECA establishments, there will also be 48 volta Kiosks, enabling the automated return of large quantities of packaging. These will be complemented by manual collection points operated by organisations wishing to join the volta system and entering into an agreement with SDR Portugal, the entity responsible for managing the brand.

All packaging covered by volta can be returned at Collection Points and volta Kiosks, regardless of where it was purchased. A map showing the locations of Collection Points and Kiosks will soon be available on the volta website – www.volta.com.pt.

volta packaging purchased in cafés, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, hotels and other similar establishments may also be returned at these locations, upon presentation of proof of purchase if requested. These establishments are only required to accept beverage packaging purchased and consumed on their premises.

volta makes returning packaging practical and convenient for consumers, ensuring a truly nationwide system that also meets environmental requirements.

Which packaging is accepted by volta?

To be included in the system, bottles and cans must display the volta symbol and have a legible barcode. They must also be intact, empty and complete (including the cap in the case of bottles). If any of these requirements are not met, the packaging will not be accepted and the deposit will not be refunded.

Between 10 April and 9 August 2026, there will be a transition period during which single-use beverage packaging with and without the volta symbol will coexist on the market. Only packaging displaying the volta symbol will be subject to the deposit and eligible for return. Conversely, packaging without the volta symbol will not be subject to the deposit and will not be accepted at Collection Points. Consumers should continue to dispose of this packaging in the yellow recycling bin, as they have done until now.

From 10 August onwards, all single-use beverage packaging – plastic, metal or aluminium bottles and cans with a capacity of up to 3 litres – will display the volta symbol and become part of the Deposit Return System.

What happens to packaging bearing the volta symbol after collection?

Once returned, the packaging enters a dedicated waste stream, preserving the high quality of its materials. It is then transported to the 2 volta Counting and Sorting Centres (in Greater Lisbon and Greater Porto) before being sent to recyclers for processing into new materials.

Through this process, the materials are transformed into new packaging – a bottle can become a bottle again, and a can can become a can again.