Tackling single-use plastic with IoT dispensers

The smart system can dispense household essentials in single-use amounts

Spotted: Single-use items are the worst offender when it comes to the world’s plastic problem. Almost all single-use plastics are produced from fossil fuels and the level of greenhouse gas emissions associated with these products is forecast to grow to 19 per cent of the global carbon budget by 2040. But now, Smartfill hopes to do away with single-use packaging altogether.

The company, based in London and Johannesburg, has developed a smart Internet of Things (IoT) dispenser solution for commercial products. The dispensers can be used with a wide range of products, from detergents to basic food items, and can decant into any container. This allows consumer packaged goods companies and retailers to sell branded consumables in any quantity without packaging.

The company’s product is especially aimed at lower-income markets, where people often buy products like shampoo and dish soap in single-use sachets. Smartfill’s system allows customers to buy a single-use amount of their favourite products and dispense it into their own, reusable containers.

The dispensers, which are available as an open-source project, can be produced for under $50 per product using readily available electronic components. This significantly lowers the production costs of the dispensing units.

Smartfill has been accepted into Level 4 of the Microsoft Startup Founders Hub and the Climate Finance Accelerator. The company was also awarded a grant from the AgriTech Innovation Centre at the UK Research and Innovation Centre.

Written By: Lisa Magloff