Terms & Conditions

1. About Zephor

Zephor Innovations Private Limited ("Zephor", "we", "our", "us") is a company incorporated in India, operating a network of smart Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) and a multi-stakeholder platform for plastic waste collection and recycling rewards.

Registered Address: No 17, M F Road, Navalpur, Walajapet, Vellore, Tamil Nadu – 632401, India.
Email: [email protected]

2. Definitions

• "Platform" — all Zephor websites, portals, and software, including consumer, retailer, RVM operator, and admin portals.
• "RVM" — Reverse Vending Machine operated under the Zephor network.
• "Consumer" — an individual who deposits eligible plastic bottles at an RVM to earn reward points.
• "Retailer" — a business partner that accepts Zephor coupons or reward redemptions.
• "RVM Manager" — a person or entity that operates one or more Zephor RVMs.
• "Points" — non-monetary reward credits earned by consumers for eligible deposits.
• "Coupon" — a digital voucher issued by Zephor redeemable at participating retailers.

3. Eligibility

• To use Zephor services, you must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into a binding contract under Indian law.
• Business accounts (retailers and RVM managers) must be duly registered entities or individuals holding valid business registrations.
• Zephor reserves the right to refuse service to anyone who does not meet eligibility criteria.

4. Consumer Terms — RVM Deposits & Rewards

4.1 Eligible Items

Only PET plastic bottles meeting our size and condition specifications are eligible for deposit. The RVM's on-device machine learning system makes the final determination of acceptance.

4.2 Points Earning

• Points are credited to your registered account upon successful verification of each deposit.
• Points have no monetary value and cannot be transferred, sold, or exchanged for cash.
• Zephor reserves the right to adjust point values, earning rates, and expiry periods with 14 days' notice.
• Points expire 12 months from the date of earning unless otherwise stated.

4.3 Coupon Redemption

• Points may be redeemed for coupons offered by participating retailers.
• Coupons are subject to each retailer's terms, availability, and expiry.
• Zephor is not liable for a retailer's failure to honour a coupon.
• Coupons are non-transferable and cannot be combined unless explicitly stated.

4.4 Fraud and Misuse

Any attempt to deceive the RVM (including depositing non-eligible items disguised as PET bottles, tampering with machines, or creating multiple accounts to exploit rewards) will result in immediate account suspension, forfeiture of all accumulated points, and may result in legal action.

5. Merchant Terms

5.1 Onboarding

Retailers must complete the Zephor approval process, including submission of business details, GST information, and KYC documentation. Approval is at Zephor's sole discretion.

5.2 Coupon Obligations

• Once a coupon is created and published on the Platform, the retailer is committed to honouring valid redemptions for the specified period.
• Retailers must not discriminate against consumers presenting valid Zephor coupons.
• Disputes regarding coupon redemptions must be raised with Zephor within 14 days of the transaction.

5.3 Fees and Settlement

Retailer fees, if applicable, are governed by the Retailer Agreement entered into during onboarding. These Terms & Conditions supplement (and do not replace) that agreement.

5.4 Termination of Retailer Account

Zephor may suspend or terminate a retailer account with 7 days' written notice for breach of these terms, non-payment, or conduct detrimental to the platform. Outstanding consumer coupons must still be honoured until their expiry date.

6. RVM Manager Terms

• RVM Managers are responsible for maintaining machines in their custody in good working order.
• Machines remain the property of Zephor unless explicitly transferred by written agreement.
• Managers must not tamper with, modify, or attempt to service machines without Zephor authorisation.
• Collection and handling of deposited materials must comply with applicable environmental and waste management regulations.
• Managers must report faults, vandalism, or suspicious activity to Zephor within 24 hours of discovery.

7. Platform Use — General

7.1 Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of these Terms.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any Zephor system or another user's account.
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or scrape the Platform.
• Introduce viruses, malware, or other harmful code.
• Use automated bots or scripts without written permission.

7.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.

7.3 Service Availability

We aim to maintain Platform availability 24/7 but do not guarantee uninterrupted access. Scheduled maintenance will be communicated in advance where possible. We are not liable for losses arising from downtime.

8. Payments

Where applicable, payments are processed via Razorpay. By making a payment on our Platform, you agree to Razorpay's terms of service. Zephor does not store card or bank account details.

All prices are in Indian Rupees (INR) unless otherwise stated. Applicable taxes (including GST) will be added where required by law.

Refund requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Contact [email protected] within 7 days of a disputed transaction.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform — including logos, text, graphics, software, and machine learning models — is the exclusive property of Zephor Innovations Private Limited or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without prior written consent.

10. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The Platform and RVM services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by Indian law.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Zephor's total liability to you for any claim arising from use of our Platform or services shall not exceed ₹10,000 or the amount you paid us in the preceding 3 months, whichever is greater.

We are not liable for:

• Loss of data, profits, or business opportunity.
• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
• Third-party actions or retailer failures to honour coupons.
• Machine malfunction or connectivity issues beyond our reasonable control.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Zephor Innovations Private Limited, its officers, directors, employees, and partners from any claims, losses, damages, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, misuse of the Platform, or violation of any applicable law.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time if you breach these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Accumulated points are forfeited on termination for cause. Data will be retained as set out in our Privacy Policy.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of Zephor services shall first be addressed by good-faith negotiation. If unresolved within 30 days, disputes shall be referred to binding arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, with the seat of arbitration in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated by updating the "Last Updated" date and, where appropriate, by email notification. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Contact

For questions about these Terms, please contact us: