Rôbalôtô – Smart Plastic Waste Management

The company has introduced smart bins in schools that help collect data on the most used types of plastic, enabling tailored waste management solutions for each location. In parallel, Rôbalôtô has created a marketplace where schools can sell collected plastic to recycling companies. Waste management efforts are supported by “environmental clubs” in schools, where students are trained by Rôbalôtô in proper waste sorting and recycling practices.

Beyond collection and sorting, the company also repurposes plastic into “solar bags”− backpacks equipped with a photovoltaic film, a battery, and LED lights. These are designed to provide students in rural areas with access to electricity for studying after dark.

For these reasons, Rôbalôtô, who won the Francophone Africa Prize at the Africa Climate Innovation Challenge (ACIC) 2025, is featured by the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre as the ISC3 start-up of the Month for May 2026.

Rôbalôtô’s smart bins are equipped with sensors and an app coupled with a data collection system that helps identify the most used types of plastic, the weight, or the bin fill level. In the environmental clubs, the youth are sensitised about plastic usage, passing on the knowledge at home, creating a ripple effect outside of school. 

The solar bag supports education in even the remotest areas of Africa. It features a durable, long-lasting design. The solar film is replaceable − users can return the bag to Rôbalôtô for servicing − and once the backpack reaches end of life, its materials can be separated and directed to plastic recycling companies.

By combining technology, education, and access to solar energy, Rôbalôtô creates impact across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, benefiting students, communities, and the wider ecosystem.

The whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in May 2026 is currently told by the ISC3 on its website at Rôbalôtô (isc3.org).