Big or small. We want everyone to join Bower.

The only technical requirement for joining the Bower movement is making packages deposable by adding the existing codes to our database. Is your packaging connected to barcodes like GS1? Even better! We can fetch information about your packaging ourselves and be up and running with our partnership in no time.

Every new market entry includes market-specific adjustments. Users are able to register their recycling stations in accordance with existing infrastructure. We are using a proprietary AI solution to get data about recycling locations through our respective user base.

Only 53% of packages are sorted correctly and 18% are correctly recycled. Packages ending up in the general waste will go to incineration, which is a big part of the problem and the reason why awareness around material types and educating consumers on correct sorting is essential.

Brands can make their packages recyclable but recyclability doesn't equal results. 62% of consumers don't know what material and packaging types are recyclable. 41% of consumers feel that they need further encouragement to recycle.

Furthermore, changing consumer behavior takes time. Even though some countries don't have the right infrastructure, we need to start rewarding the right behavior or the change will take even longer.

Packaging waste is booming and regulators are pushing consumer brands to find a long-term solution. The new EU packaging waste regulation states 70% of the packaging must be recycled by 2030, forcing consumer brands to make all packaging recyclable, educate consumers on recycling through labeling harmonization and "modern information technology”, …or face the risk of severe penalties (estimated at €2B)* and loss of reputation. We dare to say it’s a need to have - but it’s up to you to decide.

We’d like to think so. And the data rules in our favor. That being said, we’re constantly reinventing ourselves in order to keep different user groups satisfied and motivated.

Great question! We encourage correct sorting of all packaging, no matter what kind of brand you are. However, brands that are not connected to the solution are not entitled to associate with Bower and are thus not able to leverage any part of the value proposition (such as proving your sustainability efforts towards your customers). Simple.

Even if your brand's packaging is not 100% recyclable, there is still an environmental benefit to it being sorted correctly. Your brand can have an important role in promoting good consumer behaviors and habits.

Bower has an awareness strategy in place that in summary focuses on these five initiatives:

• Being an exclusive partner to waste collectors in our markets (like FTI).
• Performance marketing activities that drive app downloads.
• Eco-label on the packaging of collaborating brands (+10% have it today).
• Engaging connected brands in co-marketing efforts.
• Growing affiliate marketplace capabilities.

All packaging, no matter the size or material type as long as they’re connected to an EPR scheme. Not yet connected? Not to worry, reach out and we’ll help you master the jungle of laws and regulations within sorting and recycling.

Glad you’re asking! That’s the beauty of the solution - Bower operates upon the existing infrastructure in terms of packaging and collection systems. All you need is barcodes on your packaging (and in some cases, thanks to AI, we can find a solution around that requirement as well).

We also invented a recycling technology that supports products and packages without barcodes. If you want to learn more about that, please contact us directly.

Packaging should never be a secondary topic for brands as they are responsible for everything that they bring into circulation. To master this responsibility, our technology is a solution for both: the packaging and the product in the packaging.

You set the standard. We love to work as close as possible with our partners but for a company with limited manpower and resources, the solution is simply self-going. You're good to go as soon as you’ve provided us with your packaging information. But again, we love a tight collaboration on all verticals tapping into the partnership.

We sure do, we’re currently operating in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and the UK. Oh and a small pilot project in the US.

Through Fraud mitigation & Anti-cheat functions:

• We have a feature with control scanning of a barcode, which sometimes asks users for verification on-site at the recycling point (this feature only activates on accounts with unusual recycling behavior).
• GPS Verification: Checks coordinates against our database of recycling and sorting points.
• Limited cash pay-out: We are continuously developing our rewards to boost recycling rates.
• The Bower standard is that you can only recycle the same barcode 1 time/day.

We are collecting the following data if/when the app user agrees to it:

• E-mail, mobile phone number
• Amount of recycled packages
• Completes challenge (number + %)
• Redeemed coupons
• Transaction info (Payout and donations)
• Saved CO2 from the recycling of packages
• Geolocation
• Device info such as operating system and language.
• User app behavior aimed at improving the service

All the following data is aggregated however connected brands cannot see data on specific individuals:

1. Amount of recycled packages
2. Amount of unique users
3. Unique users vs. the total amount of users
4. Completes challenge (number + %)
5. Saved CO2 from the recycling of packages
6. List of most recycled packages
7. Breakdown total scans by gender

We are using the framework set up by "Återvinningsindustrierna". See examples on their page.

Breaking it down, the app users can convert their earned Bower points” into 3 different types of rewards:

• coupons
• donations
• money

We recently increased the cap to €20/month which applies to all new users. For all Bowies that joined us before, the limit is at €2/month.