Empower’s mission is to turn plastic waste into a resource by building the world’s largest collection-focused material platform and network. With over 2.12 million tons of plastic waste generated annually, and rising, the need for scalable, systemic solutions is urgent.

The Solution

The global plastic recycling rate remains critically low, estimated at just 9%, due to inefficiencies, contamination, and the absence of proper infrastructure. Inspired by the commercial success of the Nordic bottle deposit systems, Empower has created a digital platform designed to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. It enables traceability, product passports, take-back systems, and seamless data exchange across complex value chains, without requiring costly infrastructure investments.

By providing transparency and trust throughout the recycling supply chain, Empower empowers brands, collectors, and consumers to make verifiable and sustainable choices. Every transaction is recorded on an immutable blockchain, and product passports accessible via QR codes allow end users to verify and audit the material origin of recycled goods.

The business model combines recurring SaaS revenue from brands and collectors with revenue sharing from plastic credit transactions. Verified plastic recovery projects receive a share of marketplace trades, while brands benefit from enhanced EPR compliance and traceability.

My Role

 I have contributed to Empower both as an investor and strategic advisor. My involvement includes:

• Evaluating the platform’s mobile and desktop UX and providing actionable recommendations for improving user flows
  
• Proposing a coherent design system to enhance usability, development speed, and brand consistency
  
• Advising the product management team on how to prioritize features that build trust across the value chain
  
• Supporting strategic decisions on positioning and business model development

Impact

Empower has demonstrated that digital infrastructure can make a measurable difference in the fight against plastic waste. Through blockchain-based traceability and the introduction of plastic credits, the platform has supported the recovery and verification of plastic waste in over 40 countries.

In Nigeria, a partnership with Dow and NORAD enabled the recovery of close to 600 metric tons of plastic, while providing income opportunities for more than 8,000 people, including over 200 waste pickers. In Indonesia and Latin America, Empower has been used to streamline local recycling operations, creating transparency and trust between stakeholders across the value chain.

By combining financial incentives with robust data tracking, Empower not only helps large brands meet EPR compliance goals, it also strengthens local recycling ecosystems and creates real impact on the ground. The platform shows how technology, when applied with purpose, can contribute to both environmental and social progress.