EGF developed a pilot project in 2018 that allowed us to test whether the granting of economic benefits to the citizen caused him to separate his used packaging regularly. To this end, a national network of special containers with economic benefits for the Portuguese was created, presented on August 2 and attended by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Carlos Martins. The Recycle More campaign ran from north to south of the country, during 2 months in 15 Pingo Doce stores. When delivering the used packaging in the containers, in bags of 30 or 50 liters, EGF offered 0.10 € or 0.15 € in Poupa Mais card, for immediate use.

This pioneering initiative in Portugal is taking place within the framework of EGF's national social innovation program, in which seven of its concessionaires (Amarsul, Ersuc, Resinorte, Resulima, Suldouro, Valorlis and Valorminho) are developing this action with the co-financing of POSEUR Operational Sustainability and Efficiency in the Use of Resources.

The Recycle More campaign aimed at sensitizing the population to the separation of waste and, at the same time, alerting to the immediate benefit of placing the used packaging in the right container, demonstrating that recycling has value by returning to the citizen a part to be able to discount in their purchases in stores Pingo Doce. This also seeks to ensure that national targets are met and that the used packaging is delivered to the companies responsible for its management and treatment.

This pilot campaign was present in 15 Pingo Doce stores throughout the country, which supported this initiative by giving space in the car parks of its establishments. For two months, Poupa Mais card money was offered in exchange for used packaging delivered to one of these collection points. The campaign was available in the stores of Quinta do Conde, Barreiro and Alcochete, Porto de Mós, Batalha, Águeda, Aveiro, Vila Nova de Gaia (Coimbrões), Santa Maria da Feira, Fafe, Vizela, Arcos de Valdevez, Viana do Castelo Portuzelo), Monção (Gandra) and Vila Nova de Cerveira (Place of Faias).

The project is being evaluated and decided on how to give it continuity.