RecycleMich app reaches milestone

More than 2 million correctly disposed of packaging after just under three years

Austria’s first recycling app, RecycleMich, has reached an impressive milestone: thanks to the dedicated community, 2 million items of plastic and metal packaging and drinking cartons have already been scanned via the app since its launch almost three years ago. Not only have over 26,000 lucky winners benefited from this, but it is also above all a major step towards conserving resources and protecting the environment. Whether at home or on the go – the RecycleMich app works throughout Austria. The app has now even made it to the final of the prestigious international Sustainability Awards in Amsterdam. In November 2024, it will be revealed whether the app has also won in its category.

The success story of the RecycleMich app continues: “The 2 million mark after three years is clear proof of the growing environmental awareness of Austrians and an important step towards a sustainable circular economy. We are delighted with the fantastic response to our app,” says Ines Kilnhofer from the management team of the RecycleMich initiative. RecycleMich also received widespread public attention through its participation in major events such as the Vienna City Marathon and the Vienna Danube Island Festival. RecycleMich was also represented for the third time with a large event tent at the 41st edition of Europe’s largest open-air festival with over 2.5 million visitors on the Danube Island from 21 to 23 June and motivated environmentally conscious collection.

Clever solution for more sustainability

As the recycling potential in Austria is not yet fully exploited, the RecycleMich app is an important initiative to educate people about recycling errors, improve collection, provide information about recyclable materials and their disposal and maintain a dialogue with people. “We want an initiative in which everyone – users, companies and the Austrian waste management industry – pull together to sustainably protect natural resources and promote the circular economy,” explains Christian Abl, Director Recycling at Reclay. “The biggest bottleneck is still the collection in Austrian households. We want to return all packaging to the cycle. We need these recyclable materials to make packaging again. This can be achieved by incentivising correct collection.”

Recycling incentives for consumers

According to a recent study by Brand Trust, 71 per cent of consumers expect brand manufacturers to show more commitment and act in a socially and environmentally responsible manner to eliminate waste. “With the RecycleMich app, we offer producers and manufacturers the opportunity to incentivise the correct recycling of their packaging. The regional waste separation information is intended to ensure that users recycle correctly. In this way, brand manufacturers take responsibility for the packaging they put into circulation and ensure that the collection and recycling of recyclable materials is improved. We are creating an important link between manufacturers and consumers. This is one of the key elements if we want to further promote the circular economy and recycling in Austria,” says Ines Kilnhofer.

RecycleMich in the final of the Sustainability Award 2024

RecycleMich makes recycling child’s play: Users simply scan the barcode of their packaging and immediately receive regional information on how to separate waste correctly. Their commitment is rewarded with great prizes and competitions such as Lidl shopping vouchers or Sky X streaming subscriptions. Over 26,000 environmentally conscious collection heroes have already been rewarded. Whether at home or on the go – thanks to the simple handling of the app, disposing of empties throughout Austria is child’s play and environmentally friendly. This has even been recognised internationally: RecycleMich has made it to the finals of the prestigious Sustainability Awards in Amsterdam. It will be announced in November 2024 whether the app has won in its category.

RecycleMich partners are behind the joint initiative

Successes like these would not be possible without the support of all partner companies. The circular economy can only work if everyone really pulls together.

Coca-Cola HBC Austria, Mark Joainig, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director:
“As a founding partner, we can proudly say that with 2 million pieces of packaging collected, RecycleMich proves that sustainable awareness-raising works and helps to achieve recycling targets. We will therefore continue to promote the responsible use of valuable packaging materials as part of our collaboration.”

Dr Beckmann, Heidi Harbeck, General Manager delta pronatura GmbH Austria:
“We are delighted to have been a partner of RecycleMich for several years. It is a matter close to our hearts to support this important initiative. Preserving value is the most sustainable care – the Dr Beckmann brand has been following this credo since the early 1980s. The use of resource-saving and recyclable packaging materials also plays a decisive role in this. RecycleMich plays an important role in turning waste into recyclable material.”

Eckes-Granini Austria GmbH, Thomas Parkfrieder, Managing Director:
“With the steadily increasing Austria-wide participation and reaching the 2 million mark of recycled packaging via the RecycleMich app, not only does every participant and “RecycleMich” win, but also the environment. Every single piece of empty packaging is a valuable raw material that can be returned to the packaging cycle through proper recycling. We warmly congratulate “RecycleMich” on its nomination for Packaging Europe’s Sustainability Award 2024 and look forward to many more jointly collected packaging.”

Espara, Martina Seidl, Marketing & Product Development:
“For packaging that cannot be dispensed with from the outset, recycling must become a matter of course. And for all those who still need an incentive to do so, RecycleMich has implemented a contemporary motivation in a functional way that is suitable for everyday use.”

Henkel Consumer Brands Austria, Jaroslava Haid-Jarkova, General Manager:
“For Henkel, promoting the circular economy is a strategic priority within our sustainability strategy. We want to motivate our consumers to recycle our packaging properly to close the loop. We also work with external partners, including RecycleMe, to make this endeavour a success.”

Lidl Austria, Simon Lindenthaler, Head of Corporate Affairs:
“There is no Planet B – this saying expresses how important it is to look after our planet. We need to start again with all generations and teach them about the importance of using resources and materials responsibly. Proper recycling must become a matter of course – this is also possible at a wonderful music festival like the Danube Island Festival, where all age groups celebrate together!”

Download the RecycleMich app today and become part of the movement for a sustainable circular economy.