Circular Economy Startups

Return Carbon works with mineralization technology owners to commercialize and scale processes that use captured CO2 and mineral-rich waste streams to produce construction materials such as pavers, bricks, tiles, and aggregates. It positions CO2 as an input for the circular economy in the construction sector.

1 investor

Returnit (리턴잇) offers a reusable stainless-steel container service for food delivery, replacing single-use packaging so meals generate no disposable waste. Containers are sanitized through a multi-step cleaning process at smart centers, and are available to consumers through Korean delivery apps such as Baemin, Coupang Eats, and Yogiyo.

1 investor

Returnit (리턴잇) provides a reusable stainless-steel container service for food delivery, allowing customers to receive delivery orders in returnable containers instead of single-use plastic to reduce waste. It operates in South Korea through major delivery apps (Baemin, Coupang Eats, Yogiyo, and others) and cleans and sanitizes the containers via a multi-step process at its smart centers.

1 investor

Returnity makes The Last Box, a durable, collapsible, tapeless reusable shipping tote designed for 50+ reuse cycles that works with existing carriers, labels, and packout. Developed with FedEx for B2B shipping, it serves retail and logistics operations including fashion and footwear, 3PL, grocery, and direct-to-consumer retail.

1 investor

Reunimer operates an integrated seafood value chain spanning fishing, processing, distribution, and logistics. The company focuses on sustainable practices balancing environmental respect with business performance across its operations.

1 investor

Reuse sells refurbished and open-box electronics such as iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Oppo and Motorola smartphones, tablets, and laptops, all with a warranty and a return period. It also provides trade-in infrastructure and quality standards for retailers, and operates a showroom in Mexico City.

1 investor

Revalyu (revalyu Resources) recycles PET plastic to produce sustainable recycled polyester used by textile mills and consumer product makers. The company operates in the circular economy and plastics recycling sector, selling recycled polyester materials to textile and retail customers.

1 investor

Revent sells premium refurbished electronic devices and offers flexible device rental plans aimed at small businesses looking to reduce upfront costs. It also provides re-commerce services for returns management, product grading, and liquidation to help recover value from returned goods.

1 investor

ReVentas develops a dissolution-based recycling technology that dissolves, filters and recovers common post-consumer waste plastics to produce recycled polymer pellets that can replace virgin plastics across multiple industries. The company is based in the UK and focuses on plastics recycling for a circular economy.

1 investor

Reverse Energy Solutions provides dismantling and material recovery services for photovoltaic modules and data center equipment at end-of-life. The company recovers valuable materials for reintegration into supply chains while reducing logistics costs and environmental impact.

1 investor

Revivn manages the end-of-life process for company hardware, offering device pickups, data sanitization (meeting DOD and NIST 800-88 standards), asset tracking, and compliance reporting through an app and API integrations. It redeploys or donates used devices, partnering with non-profits to provide tech access to underserved communities.

1 investor

Revolty manufactures and sells lithium battery systems that store solar energy for residential use, with a focus on circular economy by reusing certified second-life battery cells. The company serves French homeowners with solar installations, enabling energy self-consumption and reducing electricity bills.

1 investor

RHI Magnesita is a global supplier of refractory products, systems, and solutions used in high-temperature industrial processes such as steel treatment, and it also offers refractory recycling and circular mineral solutions. It serves heavy industrial markets worldwide.

1 investor

Ricehouse produces construction materials derived from rice cultivation byproducts, offering bio-based building products as an alternative to conventional materials. The company operates in the sustainable construction and materials sector.

1 investor

Rivalia Chemical recovers rare earth elements from waste materials using patent-pending technology. The company serves industries requiring rare earth materials and operates in the cleantech and circular economy space.

1 investor

River Cleanup is an environmental organization that removes plastic waste from rivers and waterways and runs education and awareness programs to prevent plastic pollution. It works with a global community of volunteers and partners, and operates a Clean River Model and Response Unit toward a goal of making 1,000 rivers plastic-free by 2050.

1 investor

RiverRidge is a Northern Ireland waste management company that collects, treats, and disposes of commercial waste end-to-end, recovering recyclables and generating electricity from residual waste at its waste-to-energy facility. It serves over 4,500 business customers across nearly all Northern Irish postcodes, providing GRI-aligned ESG reporting to help clients meet scope 3 and Duty of Care compliance needs.

1 investor

ROBENSO develops recycling equipment for processing solid municipal waste, including robotic waste pickers, compact automated material recovery facilities, and air jet waste sorters. The systems use robotics and AI, built around a Delta-robot arm, to sort waste and recover materials for the recycling industry.

1 investor

Robes Rental was a clothing rental service that merged with Boughtia, a Finnish secondhand fashion marketplace. The rental service is being discontinued as of end of 2025, with plans to integrate rental features into the Boughtia platform.

1 investor

Rollr makes a refillable roll-on deodorant that uses pre- and probiotics to prevent odour-causing bacteria and minerals to reduce sweat. Its zero-waste system relies on powdered refill sachets mixed with water to cut packaging waste compared to conventional deodorants.

1 investor

Rookwood Operations develops phosphate recovery materials and solutions to remove excess nutrients from water treatment systems. The company produces circular products from recovered phosphorus—including LiftedP, a slow-release agricultural fertilizer—to support ecosystem health and agricultural productivity while addressing nutrient pollution in waterways.

1 investor

Rooster is a free online community platform that enables neighbors to help, borrow, and share items and services with one another. It operates as a gift economy where members exchange goods and assistance based on reciprocal generosity rather than monetary transactions.

1 investor

Rotex Group manufactures industrial screening and separation equipment, including gyratory, gyratory reciprocating, and vibratory screeners for sifting, grain cleaning, and material separation. It serves industrial applications across sectors such as wood chip processing, seed cleaning, mineral processing, and recycling, and provides parts, manuals, and onsite service.

1 investor

Rumage operates a search engine and aggregator for secondhand and refurbished goods, using database and AI technology to give shoppers a refined view of millions of items across circular economy marketplaces. It also helps businesses measure and report their influence on sustainable consumption in the context of sustainability reporting frameworks.

1 investor