Digital Refill-on-the-Go with Smart Capsules and Dispensers
Waste Type:
Main Circular Economy Strategy:
Company
KEYWORDS
Summary
MIWA is a Czech startup providing a full-service circular packaging system that integrates smart dispensers, reusable capsules, digital tracking, and reverse logistics to eliminate single-use packaging waste in retail.
Description:
MIWA (Minimum Waste) is a Czech startup founded in 2015, focused on eliminating single-use packaging waste in consumer goods retail. With a small team (<50 employees), MIWA has developed a technology-enabled reuse system for dry food, liquids, and pet products. The solution combines smart dispensing infrastructure, reusable packaging, and digital tracking to create a closed-loop supply chain. Supported by major EU funding and strategic partners like Nestlé, Aldi, and Albert Heijn, MIWA is scaling across Europe as a leading reuse infrastructure provider. MIWA's reuse system integrates hardware, software, and logistics into a full-service circular packaging solution: Hardware: Reusable Capsules: Durable food-grade plastic or stainless-steel containers used by brands to ship goods to stores. Smart Dispensers: Modular, IoT-connected units placed in retail locations for precise product dispensing. Software: RFID and IoT: Capsules include chips for automatic identification; dispensers track inventory and hygiene status. Consumer App: Customers can scan their container, track refills, and measure waste avoided. Logistics: A reverse logistics model for cleaning and refilling capsules. Retailers never handle raw product, ensuring hygiene and efficiency. Operational Integration: Retailers and manufacturers coordinate through MIWA’s digital platform, aligning capsule supply, refill, and usage.
Environmental Perspective
MIWA’s reuse system yields substantial environmental benefits: Packaging Waste Reduction: Reduces single-use packaging by up to 90% in implemented product categories. Capsules are reused hundreds of times, diluting their footprint over massive product volumes. Lifecycle Impact: Independent LCA by University of Chemistry and Technology (Prague) found 71% lower environmental impact than single-use packaging. Carbon Savings: Reduced need for virgin plastic production and waste management leads to significant CO₂ reductions. Optimized packaging and transport efficiency reduce freight emissions. Pollution Prevention: Recognized by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for reducing plastic leakage risks in nature. MIWA helps consumers shift from disposable to reuse habits, contributing to long-term systemic change in consumption patterns.
Economic Perspective
MIWA’s model demonstrates the economic viability of reuse-based systems for both producers and retailers: Cost Efficiency for Stakeholders: Producers avoid single-use packaging costs and waste compliance fees. Retailers reduce cleanup/disposal costs and gain sustainability-driven consumer loyalty. Funding and Investment: Received over €5 million in EU funding via the EIC Accelerator. Opened a €7 million private investment round in 2023 for commercialization. Revenue Model: MIWA provides equipment as a service, earning from dispenser use, capsule circulation, and data analytics. Generates additional value through customer insights and supply chain optimization data. Market Uptake: Pilots with Nestlé achieved 50% consumer reuse uptake within months. Now used in over 50 retail stores, with expansion into NL, UK, Switzerland, and Czechia. MIWA turns sustainability into a value-added service for retail, aligning eco-innovation with business goals.
