Introducing Sealed Cycle: Revolutionizing Waste Management ♻️
We’re happy to shine a spotlight on Sealed Cycle, a startup in our Foundership program! This startup is transforming how organizations view waste, turning it from a problem into valuable data that drives environmental progress.
Did you know that up to 85% of residual waste often consists of materials that should have been recycled in a different waste stream? Sealed Cycle helps organizations dramatically reduce that percentage by providing precise insights into their waste flows. This makes the path to zero waste measurable and achievable.
Why Sealed Cycle matters:
- Data-driven sustainability: They provide concrete, undeniable evidence of environmental progress, moving beyond good intentions to measurable impact.
- Actionable insights: Their data helps pinpoint exactly which actions are most effective in reducing waste.
- Closing the loop: Sealed Cycle is working towards a future where no materials are lost, aiming for a truly “sealed cycle” of resources.
- Empowering zero-waste goals: They tackle the challenge of reaching zero waste by giving organizations the insights they need to succeed.
Q
Most of us just throw trash away without a second thought. But Sealed Cycle is showing us that our ‘trash’ is actually valuable information that can help our planet. Can you explain in simple terms how turning waste into data helps organizations, and ultimately all of us, make a real difference in protecting our environment and reducing our impact on the Earth?
A lot of organisations in The Netherlands, like universities and hospitals, have the goal to be zero waste in 2030. The reality is that this goal is quite difficult to achieve, which is in part caused by a lack of data and insight. Reaching zero waste is challenging if you do not know exactly where you are today and what you need to do to get to zero waste. We help organisations by providing exact data on their waste streams, so the goal of zero waste becomes a measurable and achievable goal to work towards.
Q
Sustainability and climate action are huge challenges. How does Sealed Cycle’s technology provide concrete, undeniable evidence that organizations are truly making progress towards a greener future, beyond just good intentions? And how has being part of an incubator like UtrechtInc helped you bring this vital solution to the forefront of environmental responsibility?
The data that we create for organisations provides a very tangible point from which improvements can be made and which is used to measure impact. Our measurements can be used to determine exactly which actions are most effective, so the good intentions of these organisations can be translated to measurable progress and actual improvements. For us as a startup it is equally important to know what actions of our own are effective and which are not. By being part of UtrechtInc’s community, we have a network of like-minded people around us that greatly helps us in determining what we as a startup can do to improve our chances of success.
Q
Imagine a world where every piece of waste contributes to a healthier planet instead of polluting it. What’s Sealed Cycle’s biggest dream for how your data-driven approach to waste management can revolutionize how cities, businesses, and even communities think about their ‘stuff,’ leading us towards a truly circular and sustainable world?
The ultimate goal of Sealed Cycle is to create a system where no materials in the cycle are lost: a sealed cycle of resources. As a society we are still a long way from being there. One of the pressing problems is the way we look at materials. It should not be normal for a piece of plastic, having made the trip from oil to packaging, to be thoughtlessly thrown into the organic waste bin and to end up in an incinerator. Perhaps the most effective way to fix this problem is to revise packaging as a whole. For now, Sealed Cycle will stick to the problems of today: making sure that no plastic ends up in the organic bin or the incinerator.
Meet the team 🚀
The driving forces behind Sealed Cycle are Thomas Voets and Hans Koene. Their expertise and vision are crucial in helping organizations turn their sustainability ambitions into tangible results, making a significant difference for our planet.