Stockholm-based Bower, a startup that aims to make recycling more rewarding and contribute to a trash-free world, has been selected for a Google.org Fellowship. The company has also received €1.75M grant as part of the Google.org Impact Challenge – Tech for Social Good.
Founded by Suwar Mert, Berfin Mert and Lucas Nilsson, Bower incentivises recycling of consumer packaging at regular bins, boasting over half a million users and endorsements from 200+ brands, including Nestlé.
Since 2019, the startup spurred the recycling of 80 million packages.
Support from Google Fellowship
Google.org aims to address human challenges by leveraging Google’s strengths, offering funding, in-kind product donations, and technical expertise to support underserved communities and promote universal opportunities.
Starting in January 2024, Bower will benefit from the Google.org Fellowship, where a dedicated team of full-time Google employees with diverse skills will collaborate with Bower.
This six-month pro bono initiative aims to assist Bower in developing a machine learning-powered mobile app for waste collection.
The app will focus on rewarding users for effectively sorting their trash, aligning with Bower’s mission to make recycling a more incentivized and user-friendly experience.
Bower’s upcoming app will utilise machine learning and computer vision to enable users to scan, identify, and comprehend their trash, including package type, material composition, size, and carbon emissions.
Users will be rewarded for precise sorting and disposal. Bower plans to open-source the computer vision model, contributing to the broader recycling ecosystem.
Capital utilisation
Bower mentions in a statement that single-use packaging production is resource-intensive, and only 49 per cent of EU municipal waste is adequately recycled, leading to a surplus of mismanaged waste.
To combat this, an ML-driven mobile app is being developed to encourage and incentivise public participation in recycling to minimise waste turning into litter.
Suwar Mert, co-founder and CEO at Bower says, “Receiving this Fellowship and funding from Google.org will catalyse Bower’s work towards creating a trash-free tomorrow. This recognition fuels our dedication towards creating groundbreaking waste-sorting solutions. Now, with added expertise from some of the industry’s brightest minds, we’re better positioned to advance circularity at this critical juncture.”
Bower aims to save 500,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually by fostering sustainable behaviours and promoting recycling practices.
Rowan Barnett, Head of Google.org Europe, Middle East and Africa adds, “At Google, we believe AI can have a transformative impact on our ability to tackle some of the most pressing issues we face, including climate and environmental challenges.”
“Our goal is to bring the best of our resources to help catalyse and develop impactful, tech-enabled solutions and that is why we are delighted to be supporting Bower.”
“Bower will be leveraging Google’s technical expertise and funding to build an AI solution that will make recycling radically more efficient, and in doing so, help enable a more sustainable future for everyone,” adds Barnett.
Brief about the Google.org Fellowship
Google.org collaborates with non-profits and civic entities, to tackle society’s significant challenges by embedding teams of Googlers with them through the Google.org Fellowship.
This programme involves up to six months of full-time, pro bono work, fostering collaboration to create enduring solutions for lasting societal impact.
The Google.org Fellowship is a key employee engagement and professional development initiative where Fellows contribute expertise in software engineering, user experience, marketing, product management, and data science.
