RecycleMich: Austria’s groundbreaking app reinventing recycling and rewarding sustainability

Ines Kilnhofer, project lead of RecycleMich, has propelled Austria’s first recycling app into the spotlight as a finalist in the Sustainability Awards’ Commercialised Best Practice category. This pioneering app, created to incentivise and elevate recycling behaviour, marks a new chapter in consumer engagement by turning recycling into an accessible, rewarding habit.

Revolutionising recycling one scan at a time

In a time of urgent climate action, RecycleMich empowers users to protect natural resources through a straightforward, digital process. With the free app, users simply scan empty packaging, dispose of it correctly, and collect points for weekly and monthly raffle entries. The more packaging they recycle, the greater their chance to win—a feature that has motivated users to scan over 2.3 million packages by September 2024.

The strength of this initiative lies in its ability to unite diverse stakeholders to enhance recycling efforts for plastic, metal, and aluminium packaging

Guiding users and bridging recycling gaps

RecycleMich stands out by seamlessly integrating various stakeholders and educating users about recycling. Many consumers are unsure about proper disposal due to diverse regional regulations. RecycleMich solves this by providing instant, location-based guidance on how to sort waste correctly through easy-to-understand visuals that cater to all ages and language levels.

With each scan, a pop-up delivers tailored, location-specific instructions that ensure users are recycling appropriately based on local collection guidelines. This commitment to education and accessibility makes RecycleMich more than just an app; it’s an essential tool for recycling awareness.

Building a circular economy with industry collaboration

RecycleMich goes beyond consumer engagement by enabling producers and manufacturers to support the correct disposal of their packaging. By incentivising responsible disposal, brands actively contribute to recycling efforts, connecting with consumers and fulfilling their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) commitments. This collaboration is essential for advancing the circular economy and promoting recycling across Austria.

A vision for European expansion

As part of an international group that assists companies in meeting EPR requirements across Europe, RecycleMich aims to serve as a blueprint for global expansion. The app has the potential to reshape recycling in other countries, increasing mandatory recycling rates to achieve Europe’s ambitious targets. Through RecycleMich, this group is paving the way for a sustainable future by setting new standards in public recycling education and engagement.

Sustainability Awards 2024: A milestone for RecycleMich

The winners of the Sustainability Awards 2024 will be revealed at the Sustainable Packaging Summit, scheduled in Amsterdam on November 12-13. Gathering leaders from across the FMCG value chain, policymakers, recyclers, and investors, the summit will drive critical conversations on sustainability. RecycleMich’s nomination underscores its impact and potential to transform recycling practices globally, one scan at a time.

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