TOMRA Reuse keeps the beats clean at FAIRGROUND Festival 2025
One of Germany’s biggest indoor festivals goes all in with TOMRA’s “Throw’n’Go” cup system
FAIRGROUND Festival turned up the volume on innovation during the last weekend in November, rolling out TOMRA’s Event Solution as the festival’s reusable cup system. Around 20,000 fans got to experience a fast, digital and festival-friendly “Throw’n’Go” setup when purchasing drinks and returning cups.
TOMRA Reuse delivered a full system across the festival grounds, including:
- RFID-chipped reusable cups
- 100 TOMRA barplates connecting each cup sold to a €2 deposit
- 15 TOMRA return stations for quick drop-offs and return of deposit
- A digital platform powering real-time transactions, smooth bar flow and complete overview
Every cup deposit was linked to festival-issued wristbands, with payments and refunds handled automatically. Guests could also use an ordering app to pay and get back the deposit fee on the cups.
Throw’n’Go: festival-proven and fan-approved
Guests simply dropped used cups into the TOMRA return stations, where deposits were instantly processed. The result: clean halls, less queueing, faster bar service, and less waste.
The FAIRGROUND setup reflects the beginning of a wider shift across European festivals and venues as they phase out single-use packaging and prepare for stricter reuse regulations.
“Deposits and refunds ran automatically via wristbands and the festival app, with both transaction flows performing smoothly — so the only thing guests had to think about was the music,” says TOMRA Reuse project manager Heath Ritchie.
Reuse that matches the music
Since 2022, FAIRGROUND has become Northern Germany’s indoor festival giant. The 2025 edition featured a stacked lineup across multiple stages—Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, D-Block & S-te-Fan and more—alongside immersive zones, food courts, and a brand-new Secret Stage. This year, the festival added another upgrade: a reusable cup system that could keep up with the pace.
“FAIRGROUND shows how reuse can work even in the most demanding, high-volume event environments, where the pressure is on,” Sven Hennebach, Business Development Manager at TOMRA Reuse. “The crowd picked it up immediately and the system kept sales in bars flowing and the venue clean—without slowing down the party.”
With TOMRA’s Event Solution as a backbone cup system, we offered visitors a smooth, digital and hassle-free experience that fits the scale and energy of FAIRGROUND. It keeps the venue clean, reduces waste, and supports a more responsible festival. Even we were surprised by how high the usage was and how naturally people adopted the system. A huge success from our perspective, and a real win-win-win.
Raising the bar for major indoor events
“The collaboration with FAIRGROUND was outstanding and the feedback both from festival guests and staff really confirmed that the FAIRGROUND Festival Community is a curious and forward leaning crowd that push the boundaries of what is considered good guest experience and efficient operations,” says Louise Petri, Segment Manager Event Solution for TOMRA Reuse.
TOMRA Reuse is expanding across Europe, having powered systems at Øya festival and Intility Arena in Oslo, and now FAIRGROUND Festival in Hannover—as well as city-wide programs in Aarhus, Denmark and Lisbon, Portugual.
Questions about the TOMRA Reuse event solution?
Please reach out to Louise Petri, Segment Manager Event Solution, TOMRA Reuse, by contacting us here.
About TOMRA Reuse
TOMRA Reuse is part of TOMRA Group, a global leader in circular solutions. As a corporate venture, TOMRA Reuse develops digital, traceable and efficient systems for reusable takeaway packaging—deploying major event solutions and city-wide systems across Scandinavia, Germany and Portugal. TOMRA has more than 113,000 installations worldwide and a mission to create a world without waste.
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