“10 francs is too expensive” – or is it?

May 2026
Ten francs may seem like a high price at first glance—especially just for takeaway packaging. Perhaps even too high. After all, sometimes the food itself costs barely more than the packaging it comes in. But there’s much more behind it than first meets the eye.

The deposit system explained simply

When you use a reCIRCLE ISY or a reCIRCLE BOX, you pay a one-time deposit of five or ten francs respectively. After that, you can either keep your reCIRCLE and reuse it hundreds of times, or exchange it within our partner network. When you return it, you either receive your full deposit back and the reCIRCLE is washed and reused, or you can swap it for another reCIRCLE.

Why the deposit price makes sense

  1. Quality that delivers

Our products are made in Switzerland from durable, glass-fibre-reinforced plastic. That may sound technical, but above all it means: these products are designed for more than single use.

They are made for pasta on Monday, curry on Wednesday, salad on Friday. For office lunches, picnics, takeaway dinners—and everything in between.

  1. Everyday simplicity

With a deposit system, it’s not just the amount that matters, but how easily it fits into everyday life. No one wants to do mental math at the checkout, search for small change, or deal with complicated pricing.

That’s why we consciously use simple, standardised amounts: ten francs for all reCIRCLE BOXes and five francs for all reCIRCLE ISYs.

Reusable should never feel like extra effort—it should feel like the most natural choice in the world.

  1. A deposit that encourages returns

A low deposit may sound appealing at first, but in practice it often leads to boxes being left at home in the cupboard—right next to the water bottle, the tote bag, and all those other things you’ll “definitely use again someday.”

Or worse: they end up in the trash.

A slightly higher deposit ensures that reCIRCLE products are perceived for what they truly are: high-quality reusable items.

  1. t’s still your deposit

Most importantly, the ten or five francs are not a purchase price—they’re a deposit that doesn’t just disappear. You can return your reCIRCLEs at any time within the partner network and receive the full amount back.

The idea behind it: only those products that are truly needed remain with users permanently. All others flow back into the network and can continue to be reused.

Because in the end, reCIRCLEs aren’t made for one-time use—they’re made to last.

Sophie Bösch
Intern