Hot Seat: Aron Handreke | ContainerGrid

Last updated on: 23 Jan, 2025

Translated by ChatGPT 4o

Aron Handreke, the founder of ContainerGrid, explains in an interview how his company promotes the circular economy and addresses various challenges. In the process, he also highlights the growing role of digitalization.


Dear Aron Handreke, could you briefly explain who you are and what ContainerGrid does? What problem in the waste management sector are you trying to solve?

At ContainerGrid, we develop a digital platform that helps companies efficiently and cost-effectively reintegrate their end-of-life resources back into the supply chain. We address the challenges of high procurement costs and the often limited quality of circular raw materials by enabling companies to bundle and systematically return their own end-of-life products. Our platform creates transparency and simplifies complex processes, making a scalable and sustainable circular economy achievable.

How does your cloud-based software solution differ from traditional approaches in waste management?

Unlike traditional approaches, which primarily optimize processes within individual companies, our platform facilitates cross-company coordination in the circular economy. Additionally, many of our customers had limited control over what happens to their products at the end of their lifecycle, despite these products often being ideal raw materials for new products as they already meet required quality standards. Returning their own products also improves supply chain security—a critical advantage in times of geopolitical uncertainty. Our platform makes closed-loop recycling systems scalable and fully traceable, which would be nearly impossible without such a solution.

The digitalization of waste management is advancing. Where do you see the biggest challenges and opportunities in this area?

The biggest challenge in digitalizing waste management lies in connecting a highly fragmented industry with diverse stakeholders—from large corporations to small businesses. This diversity creates varying demands and expectations for digital solutions. Developing systems that are flexible enough to meet all needs while also streamlining processes is a key task.

The greatest opportunity lies in overcoming this fragmentation through platforms that connect all participants in the circular economy. With our experience in both large corporations and the mid-sized recycling sector, we offer a solution tailored to these diverse needs and enable collaboration across company boundaries. This lays the foundation for a sustainable circular economy, reducing costs, increasing transparency, and simplifying processes.

Who are the primary target groups for your solution, and how do they benefit from it?

Our solution primarily targets companies that want to take responsibility for their products at the end of their lifecycle. This includes manufacturers looking to improve their supply chain security by efficiently reintegrating their products into the supply chain. Additionally, companies aiming for full traceability of their materials throughout their lifecycle benefit from our platform. By fostering collaboration among all stakeholders, our platform makes processes in the circular economy more transparent and efficient.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

The circular economy can only be successfully established through close collaboration across the entire value chain. It is crucial for companies to join forces and work together on solutions. If you are interested in a pilot project or want to learn more about our platform, we would love to hear from you. Together, we can develop sustainable and efficient processes to enable the transition to a true circular economy.

Aron is the founder and CEO of ContainerGrid. With an academic background in economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam and HEC Paris, as well as several years of experience in the circular economy, he brings a systemic perspective to tackling its complex challenges. In 2021, Aron and the ContainerGrid team embarked on their mission to build a scalable and sustainable circular economy.