Building a circular economy with waste recognised as raw material

The new robot line uses AI to identify a practically unlimited number of various types of waste. The technology can distinguish between different types of waste, such as plastic, much more accurately than the human eye. The robots can pick as many as 6,900 items per hour and lift objects weighing up to 30 kilograms – drastically increasing recycling volumes and making the process safer and more efficient.

“The robot sorting line is a huge investment for us and our way of promoting the circular economy in a very tangible way. The new technology allows us to increase the amount of raw material destined for recycling and reduce the amount of incinerated waste, which also cuts carbon emissions. During the summer we have trained the AI to recognise materials correctly and we intend to get the robot line up and running in August,” says Markus Närhi, CEO of Kuljetusrinki.

Genuine data-driven management requires high-quality data

Businesses need high-quality data to support decision-making and measure their green transition, according to Markus Närhi.

“The new robot line will multiply the amount of high-quality and detailed data available to our customers and us. It will significantly improve our understanding of waste materials and their composition. We’re going to reach a whole new level in our reporting, which is important for our customers, as it allows us to help them reach their own recycling and sustainability targets.”

The robot line was provided by ZenRobotics, which is part of the TEREX Group. The close collaboration between the two companies continues and the facility is used as a reference for companies across Europe that are interested in the new technology.

Optimising the funding with Nordea

The basis for the funding was a Verde loan by way of the cooperation between Nordea and the European Investment Fund. Green Business Loans are granted under the Verde programme as part of InvestEU, a European Union investment programme. The programme aims to promote sustainable long-term growth in Europe. Additionally, leasing was a good option to utilise the asset value.

“We have a long relationship with Nordea. This was a big investment for us and we appreciate their advice and expertise. We had many fruitful meetings with our relationship manager Mikko Hirvonen when planning how to best optimise the funding. Nordea has a broad range of solutions and a good network that we can benefit from,” says Markus Närhi.