RecycleGo, a blockchain startup, has partnered with DeepDive Technology Group to track plastic bottles from factory to recycling facility. The system assigns each bottle a digital identity, allowing c
RecycleGo, a blockchain startup, has partnered with DeepDive Technology Group to track plastic bottles from factory to recycling facility. The system assigns each bottle a digital identity, allowing companies to monitor its path through the full lifecycle.
Plastic waste poses an enormous challenge. The world produces about 300 million tons of it each year. The UN estimates that only 9% gets recycled. This gap points to an industry still developing and capable of improvement.
Stan Chen runs RecycleGo. He attributes much of the problem to structural issues. "Plagued with inefficiencies, a slew of stakeholders, and a lack of digital data," he said, describing the status quo. Governments have failed to create strong incentives for households and businesses to recycle. This absence of incentive helps explain why so much plastic bypasses recycling altogether.
Better tracking upends the dynamic. "The more visibility you have in any kind of supply chain, the more you're able to engage in enterprise resource planning, including pricing and purchasing decisions and inventory management, which has a direct impact on protecting your margins and ultimately your value creation as a whole," Chen said.
The project is in its first phase. Collaborators provide information on how bottles move through the system: manufacturing, collection, processing, reuse. Participants expect to achieve cost reductions of 15 to 20% from this phase alone.
The data scales. Large manufacturers can mine it to enhance operations, lower expenses, and strengthen their reputation. RecycleGo constructed the network using HyperLedger Fabric. More than 250 organizations back the project, among them IBM, Intel, and DeepDive itself.
Misha Hanin leads DeepDive. He described the effort as something that extends beyond one company. "We are building this blockchain not just for RecycleGO, but for everyone who wants to be a part of this network. Our goal is to take recycling rates from around 8% to 100% moving forward," he said.
Other initiatives pursue the same goal. reciChain, a pilot program in Canada, began operating with a focus on supply chain optimization and environmental impact. The system tracks plastic goods using a chemical barcode linked to a digital twin. It tests both rigid and flexible plastics.
The networks remain unconnected today. As the field matures, operators believe cross-border collaboration will emerge.
