REUSABLE RFID CUPS: THE GREEN REVOLUTION IN OUR DINING HALL
ING ARENA REACHES A MAJOR MILESTONE TOWARD SUSTAINABLE EVENT HOSTING
The ING Arena continues to innovate to offer its visitors an experience that is both modern and environmentally responsible. Following a successful trial during an event at La Madeleine, our venue has become the first major event venue in Belgium to permanently adopt the STAR by Aucxis solution, a system of smart reusable cups equipped with RFID chips. This symbolic milestone reaffirms our commitment to more sustainable entertainment, without compromising the quality of the visitor experience.
Every year, the ING Arena welcomes tens of thousands of visitors for concerts, sporting events, and shows. With such high attendance, rethinking cup management presented a challenge that was at once environmental, logistical, and operational. With this in mind, we chose to partner with Aucxis, a recognized expert in the smart management of reusable cups for large-scale events.
HOW DOES STAR'S RFID REUSABLE CUP WORK?
A cup directly linked to your payment
STAR technology is based on a simple yet highly effective principle. When a visitor purchases a beverage, the cup they receive is equipped with a unique RFID tag that is automatically linked to their payment transaction. No more receipts to keep, apps to download, or manual check-ins at the counter.
An automated return process, with no waiting in line
Once you’ve finished your drink, simply return the cup to one of the smart collection points located throughout the venue. The system instantly detects when the cup is returned via its RFID tag, and the deposit is automatically refunded to the person who made the initial payment. This process eliminates the lines that used to form at traditional drop-off points and removes any friction from the visitor’s experience.
Seamless integration with our existing systems
Another major advantage of this solution is that STAR integrates directly with our Restomax point-of-sale system, which is already in use at all of our locations. This compatibility ensures a smooth transition without disrupting our teams’ operational routines or complicating the service experience for our guests.
A FULLY AUTOMATED CUP LIFE CYCLE
From the bar to the washing line
What truly sets STAR apart is its ability to manage the entire lifecycle of the reusable cup: from distribution at the bar through quality control to complete processing on the washing line. This comprehensive approach gives us full visibility into cup flows and return rates, event after event.
Fewer manual tasks, greater efficiency for our teams
For our operations teams, this automation saves a considerable amount of time. Manual tasks related to counting, sorting, and tracking cups are significantly reduced, allowing them to focus on what matters most: providing quality service to our visitors. Enhanced traceability at every stage also helps virtually eliminate fraud, which is a key factor in the profitability of this type of system.
STAR BY AUCXIS AT THE ING ARENA—WHY THIS CHOICE?
The choice of STAR was no accident. This solution has already proven itself time and again in demanding environments, particularly in sports stadiums and at numerous temporary events across Europe. With the ING Arena, STAR is establishing a permanent presence for the first time in one of Belgium’s largest entertainment venues, demonstrating that a single intelligent system can adapt just as well to the pace of a stadium as it can to the highly variable attendance levels of an event venue, night after night.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR MANAGEMENT
“STAR was the obvious choice. The solution had already proven itself in environments as demanding as ours in terms of visitor volume and pace. It was this proven reliability that convinced us. For a venue like ours, which welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year, it was important to take this step toward reusable cups: our times demand that we rethink our practices and reduce our environmental impact. With STAR, we’re doing so without compromising the visitor experience—and with real gains in control and efficiency for our teams.”
Martin Mahoux, Director of the ING Arena
THE CONCRETE BENEFITS FOR OUR VISITORS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The adoption of STAR smart reusable cups is part of a comprehensive effort to reduce our environmental impact. Here are the main benefits of this new solution:
- A streamlined visitor experience: automatic purchases and refunds, with no app or complicated steps required
- A significant reduction in waste from single-use cups
- Optimized workflow management through real-time visibility into returns
- Fraud has been virtually eliminated thanks to the individual traceability of each cup
- A lighter workload for our on-site teams
STAR BY AUCXIS AT THE ING ARENA, A BENCHMARK FOR BELGIAN EVENTS
Through this partnership, the ING Arena joins an exclusive group of major European venues that have opted for a smart and sustainable approach to managing reusable cups. This collaboration with Aucxis reinforces our position as a committed player in the environmental transition of Belgium’s entertainment sector, while ensuring our visitors enjoy a seamless, modern, and uncompromising experience.
We’re proud to be among the pioneers of this technology in Belgium and will continue to explore innovative solutions to make each of our events more sustainable, year after year. Don’t wait any longer—pick the next date that works for you from our calendar and come try out our new cups!