We’ve all bought a takeaway drink in a reusable cup with good intentions, only to carry it around all day because finding a designated drop-off point feels like a treasure hunt.
Solving this exact headache, Smart Bin, Borrow by Huskee has just been named a 2026 Australian Good Design Award Winner in the Product Design category, proving that sustainability can be both smart and seamless.
The company has introduced an internet-of-things-enabled, QR-coded Smart Bin built specifically to streamline the return of reusable cups and containers.
Rather than acting as a standard waste receptacle, these freestanding bins can be placed virtually anywhere to act as intelligent touchpoints for Huskee’s ‘Borrow’ reuse system.
The biggest secret to getting people to reuse packaging? Making it insanely easy. Huskee took that as its important note; you don’t even need to wash your cup before dropping it in the bin.
The bins use smart tracking so local businesses can monitor return rates in real time, while a mechanical entry ensures only designated reusable cups get inside. To make things even sweeter, app users can track their eco-impact and unlock fun perks, like a free coffee, after returning a few cups.
“Making reuse work at scale is about much more than designing a great reusable product,” said Saxon Wright, Huskee co-founder and CSO at BioPak Group. “We need to make the return journey just as easy, intuitive and convenient as picking up the product in the first place.”
To sweeten the green transition, app users can even track their contributions and unlock rewards, like a free coffee, once they hit specific return milestones.
Innovations like the Huskee Smart Bin show that building a sustainable future isn’t just about creating better materials; it’s about making the right choice the easiest choice.
The company in May also partnered with the Carriageworks Farmers Market to introduce a new initiative to replace single-use coffee cups with a reusable circulation system across three major coffee vendors.
