Portugal implements Volta deposit and return system

Portugal has implemented the Volta system, a national version of the Deposit and Return (SDR) model for packaging. While the system has faced local criticism and uncertainty, it follows a long-standing European trend.

Several European nations have utilized similar deposit-return systems for decades. Sweden implemented its system for cans in 1984, followed by Iceland in 1989 and Norway in 1999. Other countries, including Germany, Denmark, Croatia, and Lithuania, have also adopted these models. Although the Volta system is part of a broader European approach to packaging management, there is no single unified model; countries differ significantly regarding covered materials, deposit values, and collection methods.