With this innovation, Droppie aims to show that trash can be not only functional but also attractive. They give sustainability a fresh and bold twist, where waste literally becomes worth its weight in cash. The concept goes beyond recycling; it offers a positive look for the future, where trash has value, and resources aren’t lost. Through this circular approach, Droppie accelerates sustainability and seeks to convince more people that sorting waste isn’t boring but is actually the key to a cleaner world.

During Crossroads, their presentation inspired the audience by demonstrating how recycling not only benefits the environment but also provides direct rewards for users.

At DGTL ADE, they tested their concept on a larger scale with the interactive Plastic Lab, where visitors could test their knowledge about plastic through a quiz and short interviews. The results were surprising: while many people are familiar with different types of plastic, there is still significant confusion about recycling processes. Key findings from the Plastic Lab:

• A striking 46% of participants believed recycled plastic was worth €0.10 or less, showing that the value of recyclable materials is often underestimated.
• The NIR scanner, designed to identify types of plastic, worked well, though some non-plastic materials were harder to analyze. This technology has great potential to give consumers instant insights into the materials they recycle.
• Most visitors were motivated to separate plastic at home but cited lack of space and time as obstacles. In municipalities where post-sorting is standard, participants were less inclined to sort waste themselves.

Droppie is now working with these findings to refine their innovation, aiming to inspire even more people to recycle their waste.