Achieving A Circular Economy For
Waste: Innovative Technologies
And Sustainable Strategies
Kim Knickle
Jessie Wilson
Luke Gowland
Research Director,
Analyst,
Industry Analyst,
ESG & Sustainability
ESG & Sustainability
ESG & Sustainability
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Together with our clients, we shape markets, define
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ESG & Sustainability Key Research Areas
ESG Regulations & Reporting
Circular Economy
Supply Chain Sustainability
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ESG Risk
ESG &
Sustainability
Sustainable Finance
Social Impact
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Kim Knickle
Research Director, ESG & Sustainability
Kim is Research Director of the ESG & Sustainability practice. Her research areas encompass ESG regulations and reporting,
ESG risk, supply chain sustainability, circular economy, social impact, and sustainable finance. Kim has worked for more than
20 years in the IT industry, providing research and analysis to help companies invest wisely in new technologies.
Jessie Wilson
Analyst, ESG & Sustainability
Jessie is an Analyst in the Verdantix ESG & Sustainability practice. Her current research agenda spans areas such as ESG
reporting, the circular economy and supply chain sustainability. Prior to joining Verdantix, Jessie graduated from the
University of Bristol with First Class Honours in BSc Geography and French. Her dissertation was on achieving a circular
economy for plastics with reusable packaging.
Luke Gowland
Industry Analyst, ESG & Sustainability
Luke is an Industry Analyst in the Verdantix ESG & Sustainability practice. His current research focuses on ESG reporting and
data management, as well as emerging technologies and market trends across industries. Prior to joining Verdantix, Luke
worked at research and advisory firm GlobalData, producing ESG research reports for corporate clients. Luke holds an MSc in
Sustainability and Management from the University of Bath.
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Agenda :
1
Waste management & recycling market overview
2
Supporting innovative technology developments
3
Sustainability strategy recommendations and benefits
4
Q&A
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Agenda :
1
Waste management & recycling market overview
2
Supporting innovative technology developments
3
Sustainability strategy recommendations and benefits
4
Q&A
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Circular Economy Model For Waste And Supporting Measures
Collection
3
Reuse
4
Recycle
5
Recover
Use
Dispose
2
Reduce
6
Production
1
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Prevent
Upstream waste hierarchy measures for a circular
economy
Downstream waste hierarchy measures for a circular
economy
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Main Drivers Propelling A Transition To A Circular Economy For Waste
Environmental Drivers
Operational Drivers
Stakeholder Drivers
Waste reduction & resource
conservation
Regulatory pressure & noncompliance risks
Competitive advantage &
brand reputation
Improving sustainability
performance
Long-term cost savings & value
recapture
Stakeholder pressure (ie.
Investors)
Reduce environmental impacts
Optimize and enhance process
efficiency
Consumer demand and
consciousness
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Top Challenges That Inhibit A Circular Approach To Waste Management
Limited and
fragmented physical
infrastructure
Economic viability and
financial constraints
Rapidly evolving and
complex regulatory
requirements
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Examples of Investment and Acquisitions in Waste Management & Recycling
2023
2024
Transaction
Description
Investment
Resynergy, plastic recycling technology, raised $6.4m in Series B funding round
Investment
CheckSammy, a service and software provider for waste diversion and carbon reduction, raised $45m
Investment
Bollegraaf makes a $12.8m cash investment into Greyparrot, AI robotic sorting and analytics provider
Investment
Glacier, AI robotics and recycling technology, receives $7.7m from Amazon
Investment
H&M and Vargas launch new textile-to-textile recycling venture (Syre) with a $600m offtake agreement for seven years
Acquisition
Hensel Recycling acquired Red Fox Resources, a specialty recycler for diesel filters
Acquisition
Waste Connections purchased 30 energy waste treatment and disposal facilities from Secure Energy Services for $810m
Investment
SOLARCYCLE, solar panel recycling technology firm, raised $30m
Investment
Sortera Technologies, AI-based sorting and recycling technology provider for metals, raised $30.5m in a Series C funding round
Investment
Princeton NuEnergy, battery recycling technology provider, raises $16m in a Series A funding round
Investment
SuperCircle, a textile recycling technology firm, raised $7m
Investment
UBQ Materials, a plastic waste recycling firm, raised $70m on top of the $120m funding round in 2021
Investment
Recycleye, AI-based robotics waste sorting and analytics firm, receives $17m in funding
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Agenda :
1
Waste management & recycling market overview
2
Supporting innovative technology developments
3
Sustainability strategy recommendations and benefits
4
Q&A
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Digital transformation and technology uptake are key to enabling a circular economy for waste
To address present and future waste
management challenges effectively, systems
and processes must be digital, innovative and
sustainable.
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Innovative Technology Development Landscape
Advanced Waste
Sorting
Smart Waste
&
Recycling Bins
Waste
To
Energy
Innovative
Recycling
Waste Analytics &
Management
Software
Intelligent Waste
Collection & Route
Optimization
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Technology Deep Dive: Advanced Waste Sorting
Advanced Waste
Sorting
Equipment technology & hardware
Integration
Systems integration
Waste Analytics &
Management
Software
Digital tool & software
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Technology Deep Dive: Smart Waste & Recycling Bins
Smart Waste &
Recycling Bins
Equipment technology & hardware
Integration
Systems integration
Intelligent Waste
Collection & Route
Optimization
Digital tool & software
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Agenda :
1
Waste management & recycling market overview
2
Supporting innovative technology developments
3
Sustainability strategy recommendations and benefits
4
Q&A
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Implementing Sustainability Considerations Into Waste Management Brings Several Business Benefits
Environmental
• Resource conservation
• Waste prevention and
reduction
• Pollution decrease
• Energy efficiency
• Nature and
biodiversity restoration
Social
• Talen attraction and
retention
• Job creation
• Improved stakeholder
relationships and
engagement
• Enhanced reputation
and customer loyalty
Governance
Economic
• Mitigate non-compliance
risks non• Mitigate
• New revenue streams
• Stronger
accountability
compliance
risks
and responsibility
• Product development
compliance
• Improved
regulatory
• Increased
data
compliance
• Recapture material
value
• Stronger accountability
• Improved
regulatory
and responsibility
transparency
• Increased data
transparency
• Economic
opportunities
• Cost savings
• Foster innovation
• Operational efficiency
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Five Strategies To Support Effective Waste Management And Sustainability Performance Improvement
Incorporate ecodesign principles
to prioritize waste
prevention
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Five Strategies To Support Effective Waste Management And Sustainability Performance Improvement
Incorporate ecodesign principles
to prioritize waste
prevention
Implement reuse
and reverse
logistics programs
to reduce waste
generation
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Five Strategies To Support Effective Waste Management And Sustainability Performance Improvement
Incorporate ecodesign principles
to prioritize waste
prevention
Implement reuse
and reverse
logistics programs
to reduce waste
generation
Locate industrial
facilities in ecoindustrial parks for
resource reuse and
costs savings
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Five Strategies To Support Effective Waste Management And Sustainability Performance Improvement
Incorporate ecodesign principles
to prioritize waste
prevention
Implement reuse
and reverse
logistics programs
to reduce waste
generation
Locate industrial
facilities in ecoindustrial parks for
resource reuse and
costs savings
Establish strategic
partnerships to
foster collaboration
and innovation
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Five Strategies To Support Effective Waste Management And Sustainability Performance Improvement
Incorporate ecodesign principles
to prioritize waste
prevention
Implement reuse
and reverse
logistics programs
to reduce waste
generation
Locate industrial
facilities in ecoindustrial parks for
resource reuse and
costs savings
Establish strategic
partnerships to
foster collaboration
and innovation
Develop a digital
strategy to
achieve
sustainability
goals
Source: Verdantix research and analysis
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Questions
Please submit your questions into the Q&A box
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ratings. Verdantix research publications consist of the opinions of the
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expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any
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