Page 10 - Sparklo PR Report - June 2025

How Sparklo is redefining recycling in the UAE and beyond
That’s how Sparklo was created. We launched in December 2022. UAE residents got the

solution they needed — a new reverse vending machine, called the Sparklomat, that rewards

them for doing the right thing.

Since then, we’ve collected over 95 million recyclables in MENA and built the region’s largest
incentive-driven recycling community — over 350,000 active users. It’s a shift from obligation

to motivation — and it works.

What is the business model of Sparklo?

We focus on both end users and private and public partners. How does it work for users?

Drop in a plastic bottle or can and earn redeemable points in our Sparklo app — discounts on
groceries, taxi rides, delivery, and more. It’s seamless and gives immediate feedback: you

recycle, you get rewarded. Today, we have dozens of loyalty partners helping us realise our

vision of rewarding positive habits.

Beyond rewards, location matters. To make recycling seamless, Sparklomats must be placed

where people already are. To build this infrastructure, Sparklo uses a ‘hardware-as-a-service’

model.

Our machines are now deployed in 280 UAE locations: residential communities, retail stores,

workplaces, schools, and transport hubs. We’ve partnered with Dubai Municipality,

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, ADNOC Distribution, Carrefour, LuLu, Accor, Emaar, and
others to integrate recycling into daily life.

This approach lets us make recycling convenient and rewarding for users — while helping

partners meet their ESG goals. In turn, they help us scale the infrastructure to make Sparklo’s
vision a reality.

How was the business funded?

The company is privately funded with my own investment and contributions from MENA-

oriented private investors who support the growth of UAE-based technology.

What technology is being used for Sparklomats?

Artificial intelligence plays a key role in how Sparklomats work. Unlike machines that rely on

barcodes to determine whether an item can be recycled, ours use advanced recognition

technology to identify plastic bottles and aluminum cans in milliseconds — with or without
labels or barcodes. If it’s recyclable, it’s accepted. Instantly.

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