Rules by country / Europe / Austria deposit return scheme
Austria deposit return scheme: what 25 cents a can does to your prices
Since 1 January 2025, shoppers pay a 25 cent deposit on every single-use plastic drinks bottle and can, and get it back on return. A 24-can case costs €6 more at the till. We plan your prices and packs for it.
At the deposit in force since 1 January 2025. Refillable bottles have their own deposits.
A price and pack plan for the deposit
Your prices and packs with the deposit on top, product by product and retailer by retailer.
- How shoppers switch between pack sizes when the till price jumps
- The best shelf price for each pack, with the deposit on top
- Which multipacks and price points to lead with, and how to promote them
- A plan by retailer, and an Excel model to test other prices
How your results look
| Pack | Deposit at the till | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Beer, 24 x 500ml cans | +€6.00 | Lead with the 12-pack |
| Cola, 6 x 500ml bottles | +€1.50 | Hold the price |
| Energy drink, 250ml can | +25 cents | Keep the price point |
Fictional products. Every real result comes with the expected sales and profit, and a likely range.
Your options
Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.
Price and pack plan
- The deposit and best choice for each product
- Price plan for each retailer
- Scenario model and a walk-through
Pricing review with the deposit
- Everything in the deposit review
- Prices and promotions for the whole range
- How your products take sales from each other
Portfolio review
- Everything in the pricing review
- More retailers and data sources
- A plan for each channel
After the project: a refresh before each pricing round, from £2,000 (about €2,400). Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in euros are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
How it works
From the first call to your plan in about three weeks.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us about your range. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Sales by product and retailer, recipes and costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
Prices and packs for the deposit, walked through with your team.
Austria deposit return scheme: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Started
- 1 January 2025
- Deposit
- 25 cents per container, refunded on return
- Containers
- Sealed single-use plastic bottles and metal cans, 0.1 to 3 litres
- Exempt
- Drinks with at least 51% milk, syrups, and some medical and liquid food products
- Changeover
- Containers filled before 1 April 2025 could be sold without the deposit until 31 December 2025
- Target
- 90% of bottles and cans collected by 2027
Hold the price
Keep the shelf price and let the deposit show. Works when shoppers see past it.
Change the pack
The deposit is a bigger share of a small pack's price. Shift volume to sizes that carry it better.
Rethink promotions
A 24-pack's till price jumps the most. Check which deals still pay once shoppers see the deposit.
Is there a bottle deposit in Austria?
Yes. Since 1 January 2025, single-use plastic drinks bottles and metal cans carry a 25 cent deposit, refunded when they are returned.
How much is the deposit in Austria?
25 cents per bottle or can, so a 6-pack costs €1.50 more at the till and a 24-can case €6 more.
Which drinks are exempt from the Austrian deposit?
Drinks with at least 51% milk, syrups, and some medical and liquid food products. Single-use glass isn't in the scheme.
When did the Austria deposit return scheme start?
On 1 January 2025. Containers filled before 1 April 2025 could be sold without the deposit until the end of 2025.
How much does a price and pack plan cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about €9,000) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review costs around £17,500 (about €21,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Do you work with brands in Austria?
Yes. We're based in the UK and work remotely and in English, under NDA. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling before we start, and the first step is a free 15-minute call.
- Recycling Pfand Austria, questions and answers
- Recycling Pfand Austria, the single-use deposit system
- Sensoneo, overview of deposit return schemes in Europe
Checked on 25 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.