Rules by country / Europe / Portugal deposit return scheme
Portugal deposit return scheme: what 10 cents a can does to your prices
Since April 2026, shoppers pay 10 cents on every single-use plastic drinks bottle and can, and get it back on return. A 24-can case costs €2.40 more at the till. We plan your prices and packs for it.
At the deposit in force since April 2026.
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 330ml cans | +€2.40 | Lead with the 12-pack |
| Water, 6 x 1.5 litres | +60 cents | Hold the price |
| Cola, 330ml can | +10 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.
Portugal deposit return scheme: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Started
- April 2026, run by SDR Portugal under the Volta name, across the mainland, the Azores and Madeira
- Deposit
- 10 cents per container, refunded on return as store credit or a voucher
- Containers
- Single-use plastic bottles and metal cans up to 3 litres: water, soft drinks, juices and nectars, energy drinks, beer, cider and flavoured alcoholic drinks
- Excluded
- Glass, drinks cartons, and drinks with more than 25% dairy
- Changeover
- Until 9 August 2026 only containers with the Volta mark were refunded; after that every eligible container placed on the market must be in the scheme
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.
Does Portugal have a deposit return scheme?
Yes. Volta started in April 2026: single-use plastic drinks bottles and cans carry a 10 cent deposit, refunded on return.
How much is the deposit in Portugal?
10 cents per bottle or can, so a 24-can case costs €2.40 more at the till.
Which drinks are excluded from Volta?
Drinks in glass or cartons, and drinks with more than 25% dairy.
Is the deposit return scheme in the Azores and Madeira?
Yes. Volta covers the mainland, the Azores and Madeira.
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 Portugal?
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.
- Zero Waste Europe, Portugal launches its deposit return system ahead of the new EU packaging rules (May 2026)
- TOMRA, Portugal becomes the 19th country in Europe with a deposit return system (2026)
Checked on 25 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.
Also changing prices in Portugal
Ask about these on the same call.