Cleantech company Sparklo has announced a new milestone in the MENA of having collected over 50 million bottles. Since last year, the company has also expanded its reverse vending machines (RVMs), known as Sparklomats, from 100 to over 300.
According to the company—which currently has active operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, and Georgia—it now collects more than 200,000 bottles and cans daily.
Looking ahead, the company shared that it plans to scale its operations globally, exploring markets in Asia and the CIS.
“To address global environmental challenges related to plastic and aluminum waste, we need sustainable technologies that bridge the gap between consumers and recycling facilities,” said Maxim Kaplevich, founder and CEO of Sparklo.
The company explained in a statement this week that instead of relying on measures like deposit fees, its model centres on rewards and incentives.
“While many factories worldwide can process raw materials, the main challenge lies in establishing the infrastructure for waste collection. Sparklo tackles this by building a robust collection network without directly engaging in recycling, and motivates people to adopt eco-friendly habits through positive incentives,” Kaplevich added.