GRIN offers smart collection systems for the circular economy

In order to reach environmental targets, whether it’s reduction of CO₂ emissions, plastics pollution or biodiversity loss, the world needs to transition from a linear to a circular economy. This means that truly circular products must be collected at end of life to be reused, refurbished or recycled.

“A key challenge for any circular business is to get their circular products back from consumers. We help our customers to overcome this challenge,” explains Daniel Millet, Chief Business Development Officer at GRIN.

GRIN’s universal, flexible and modular Revore™ smart collection system can collect almost any item.

“We help companies to collect their circular products from consumers in a cost-effective, safe, secure and data-driven manner, while facilitating a wide range of digital incentives and reward schemes,” says Millet.

The hardware part of the solution is purchased upfront while the digital solutions are provided as-a-service on a subscription plan. The hardware is a collection machine equipped with image sensors that detect, identify and validate returns. The machine also continually measures the fill level and provides bin-full alerts. 

The software includes AI solutions to identify, validate and document what has been returned. Back-end architecture collects and analyses the data, making it available to customers or third parties. In addition, the software includes advanced digital fleet management solutions, enabling customers to effectively support, operate and service large numbers of collection machines.

The smart collection system enables customers to implement new circular value chains and business models.

“A core system feature is our ability to collect nearly any type of product, from reusable packaging to medical devices and electronics,” says Millet. “This flexibility reduces the need for customised solutions and overall costs, and thus lowers the threshold to move from linear to circular products.”

Moreover, by automating the return process, the system reduces manual labour, makes collection more cost-effective and available to end users, and provides all the data needed for effective reverse logistics operations.

“Our primary market is the entire European food service sector, including grocery stores and business canteens. In Europe, the fast food/quick service sector alone comprises some 75 000 locations,” says Millet.

GRIN has installed over 100 collection machines in Norway and the Netherlands to collect different types of reusable packaging for clients in the food service sector.

The company’s largest end client is in the Netherlands, where collection machines are installed in every location of one of the world’s largest quick-service restaurant chains. In this case the collection system is configured to collect reusable deposit cups. The deposit is issued on a paper receipt, very similar to traditional reverse vending machines for bottles and cans.

In addition, GRIN is part of the ongoing Horizon Europe project Digital Health in the Circular Economy (DiCE) under which it will launch pilots in Belgium, Slovenia and Spain in 2025 to collect electronics and medical devices at pharmacies and hospitals. DiCE is coordinated by Johnson & Johnson and partners include Dutch medtech giant Philips. GRIN has previously collaborated with the pharmaceutical heavyweight Novo Nordisk on collection of injection pens.

“The healthcare and medtech sectors have huge market potential, and we are now positioning ourselves at the forefront of the circular transition within these areas,” he concludes.