15,000 transactions have already been carried out with KOLEKT in the past twelve months, with a volume of around 1,500 kilos per transaction. What kind of data does the app collect? And what value do you attribute to the data, for example in relation to EPR reporting? The value of the data lies in the transactions and purchase notifications, but also in the ability to detect and prevent fraud. We use the app to collect photos, GPS data, sales and purchase confirmations, prices, weight, and details about the material. This is also the data that auditors want to see from companies. Ultimately, it’s key for EPR reporting because the KOLEKT data can be used to prove how many tons of waste were delivered to the recyclers, how the recyclers processed the waste, and where the waste came from. What’s next for KOLEKT? I think what matters most is to make clear to consumer goods manufacturers that the volume of packaging waste that gets collected will only grow if we let the real experts, the professionals, which is what waste pickers are, do their job by hand. They can’t be replaced by garbage trucks or intelligent garbage cans, instead they must be paid fairly. In the future, we also want to offer certificates, similar to Plastic Credits, as proof of collection and recycling for consumer goods companies. This would mean that auditors such as Control Union or TÜV could audit our systems to see whether collection and recycling have been carried out and documented correctly. In short, our aim is to develop into an auditing platform for waste. The KOLEKT app is available in various languages and is already used in countries such as Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Mozambique. 44
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