Today we want to introduce a startup from goCircular Radar, winner of the recent edition of Circular Packaging Challenge 2024. We interviewed its Chief Business Development Officer and co-founder, Daniel Millet.
What problem does your startup address and what solution does it propose?
A product can be 100% reusable or recyclable- but if it is not collected properly after use and kept in a circular loop, that doesn’t matter: it would just be an expensive linear product. We help our clients collect circular products from consumers in a secure, automated, cost efficient and data driven manner. We do this by providing our sensor equipped and AI powered collection machines and associated software that manages all the data and integrates our collection system with any client’s or third party’s reward, tracking or logistics system. Today all of our commercial projects are within reusable packaging, but our technology can collect any product below a certain size, and this year we will pilot collection of medical devices in Belgium, Spain and Slovenia as part of an EU project.
How and why did you start this entrepreneurial adventure? Any advice from your experience that you would like to pass on to future entrepreneurs?
If the world is going to reach any environmental targets- whether it’s CO2 emissions, plastics in the oceans or deforestation: every product must become more circular. Reuse needs to be implemented in many new product categories. This will require new smart collection systems and much more: so, we started GRIN to fill one of the gaps in these new emerging circular ecosystems.
This would also be one advice for future entrepreneurs. Try to imagine how a more sustainable and circular future will look like within society at large or a specific industry segment- and identify potential technical and infrastructure gaps that needs to be addressed in that future.
But be prepared for a marathon, or rather an ultramarathon. It’s not a sprint. Especially when you’re developing hardware… You often read about these quick success stories, but most success stories take many years.
How do you expect the sector to evolve? And what expectations do you have for your start-up?
Because of recent legislation in the EU, such as the PPWR Directive, we expect the need for smart collection systems for a variety of packaging types will increase a lot in the coming years. But we also expect similar developments in other sectors in the years to come, such as textile, electronics and healthcare. Any sector that today produces a lot of waste- will need new technologies and solutions to become more circular. And not only in Europe. In many countries in Asia for example, increasing waste streams that are not properly managed are fast becoming a direct threat to people’s health, wellbeing and local economies.
Another trend that we see is increased focus not only on the environmental benefits of circular solutions, but also security and self-reliance. In the current geopolitical climate, it is more important than ever for Europe to become less dependent on imports of critical raw materials and components. Global supply chains are increasingly viewed as a risk, and one of the best ways of mitigating this risk is increased reuse and recycling: keeping materials and products in use locally for as long as possible.
Any new developments in the near future that you would like to share with the rest of the startups?
In Q2 2025 we will launch pilots in Slovenia, Spain and Belgium to collect medical devices as part of the EU Horizon project DiCE, coordinated by Johnson & Johnson. This will be the first time smart collection systems are used to collect such devices.
The healthcare sector is responsible for nearly 5% of the world’s CO2 emissions, much more than the world’s entire airline industry. Most of this are related to scope 3 emissions and the enormous volume of single-use products being manufactured and thrown away every day. This of course also includes heaps of different packaging.
We see that this industry is now starting to move in a more circular direction, and that will present a lot of opportunities for new ideas, technology and products!
In what areas would you like to collaborate with other startups, companies or other organisations?
We would like to talk to any company that has a need for physical collection of a product. Especially any company or organisation that wishes to get rid of single-use cups or food packaging and implement a reuse system. We, and our partners, have the solutions to help you get rid of all that packaging waste today! Let’s talk.
You participated in the Circular Packaging Challenge organised by TheCircularLab and Ecoembes, emerging as the winner of the Challenge 2, “New packaging management models”, of the 2024 edition. Could you tell us about your experience?
It was a great experience! It did not require too much work for the application and preparation, and the trip and final event was very well arranged. Now me and my colleagues very much look forward to seeing what it will bring in terms of actual work. Competitions and winning prices are always fun- but what really matters for startups are concrete actions and the pilots and projects they might lead to!
