CEO Corner - Discarded electrical and electronic equipment

4,000,000.

In 2021, this figure marked a significant milestone: across Europe, Landbell Group collected over 4 million tonnes of discarded electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) for recycling.

Recycling for electronic products such as phones, computers, and televisions has many benefits: preventing the release of 6,000 tonnes of ozone depleting substance and the emission of more than 43 million tonnes of CO2, saving enough energy to power 1 million homes for a year and recovering 32 tonnes of gold.

Still, discarded electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is one of the fastest growing waste streams that we need various solutions for. How can we increase the current recycling rate of 38.9 % in the EU and even move up the famous waste hierarchy to waste prevention and reuse? By making it simple for all stakeholders involved!

Therefore, I am happy that the Portuguese startup Simby could win our public vote for the Green Alley Award finals and will present their business idea live in Berlin.

The digital WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) marketplace connects suitable business partners using digital technology and machine learning and allows individuals and businesses to sell their unwanted or end-of-life electronic devices.

On their platform it will be possible to trace products to increase accountability, integrate with other stakeholders (i.e., governmental agencies), follow the transaction details and gain access to global analytics on equipment and valuable metals.

Meet CEO and founder José Carlos Carvalho and his Team Isabel Macedo, Filipe Gonçalves and Nuno Novo in Berlin and directly discuss their business idea at the Green Alley Award finals!

For more finalists, check out our CEO’s LinkedIn page.