GreenBig
GreenBig (operating as b:bot) is a French company that designs, deploys, and operates shredding-based reverse vending machines for PET, can, and glass collection, serving major French retailers including Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Système U, and ITM within deposit return systems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersPuteaux, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GreenBig does
GreenBig SAS, operating commercially as b:bot, is a French hardware-and-software company founded in December 2017 in Rouen that designs, manufactures, and operates high-density reverse vending machines (RVMs) for PET bottle, aluminum can, and glass collection within deposit return systems (DRS). The company has installed 1,200+ machines across France (including 150 outdoor configurations), achieved 80% market share of the French RVM market in three years, and processed 500 million containers through its shredding system. Core customers are French retail chains — Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Système U (Super U), and ITM (Intermarché) — alongside recyclers, brand owners, and Deposit Management Organisations.
The company's technical differentiator is a shredding-based collection architecture that reduces volume 7x versus traditional compaction, combined with two-stream color sorting at source that delivers >98% purity and >90% food-grade flakes suitable for bottle-to-bottle recycling with European recycling partners. Embedded AI powers computer vision for barcode validation, real-time anomaly detection for anti-fraud, and predictive maintenance via the b:care service package, which resolves 80% of incidents remotely. The ecosystem is rounded out by the b:datas reporting platform for bag-level traceability and audit-ready DRS compliance, plus a 32-inch retail media display that monetizes consumer attention during transactions.
GreenBig monetizes through multiple streams: hardware sale or rental of the b:bot, b:bot + can, and b:bot XXL product lines; material offtake of PET flakes priced against ICIS Recycled PET Europe; retail media advertising on the in-store screen; and ancillary services (b:care, b:datas). The company has raised €6M in seed funding in July 2021 and €20M in Series A funding in July 2023 (€26M total) to accelerate European expansion and continue R&D. The GTM is enterprise field sales across five French regions plus an international lane, with a partner recruitment channel and a consumer-facing app for end users.
GreenBig firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GreenBig
- Legal name
- GreenBig SAS
- Website
- https://b-bot.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GreenBig (operating as b:bot) is a French company that designs, deploys, and operates shredding-based reverse vending machines for PET, can, and glass collection, serving major French retailers including Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Système U, and ITM within deposit return systems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GreenBig industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Reverse Vending Machines and PET Recycling Hardware
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (56292)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM), Beverage Packaging (Bottles, Cans, Cartons, Kegs) (IMALAHAD)
Keywords
Where GreenBig is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Puteaux
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GreenBig business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- RVM hardware sales and rental: Sale or rental of b:bot machines (b:bot bottle, b:bot + can, b:bot XXL) to retailers. Self-funded model described where machine economics are favourable for retailers.
- Consumer rewards system: Consumers receive 1-2 cents per bottle recycled, funded through the deposit return system. Rewards can be given to associations or used as store vouchers.
- Retail media/advertising: Brand owners pay for messaging on the 32-inch display during consumer transactions. Up to 38M contacts exposed per month. 4-27% incremental sales volume lift demonstrated across 25+ certified campaigns.
- Material valorization: PET flakes and other collected materials are sold to recyclers. Price indexed on ICIS Recycled PET Europe with guaranteed minimum. Reuse of truck capacity already in circulation rather than additional trucks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer reward per bottle |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Machine purchase or rental options |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
GreenBig product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GreenBig, operating under the b:bot brand, designs, manufactures, and deploys high-density reverse vending machines (RVMs) that collect, shred, and colour-sort PET bottles (and cans) at the point of return. The machines reduce collected container volume by 7x versus traditional compaction, and the resulting PET flakes are sold to European recyclers for bottle-to-bottle recycling. Offerings span hardware (b:bot, b:bot + can, b:bot XXL), embedded AI for predictive maintenance and anti-fraud, and the b:datas reporting and traceability platform.
Product overview
GreenBig (operating as b:bot) offers a portfolio of high-density reverse vending machines (RVMs) designed for deposit return systems (DRS). The core product line includes the standard b:bot bottle model for indoor retail, the b:bot + can multi-stream version, and the b:bot XXL for large outdoor parking deployments. The ecosystem is powered by proprietary AI technology for predictive maintenance, computer vision for barcode validation and anti-fraud detection, and the b:datas reporting platform for operational analytics. The b:care service package provides ongoing monitoring, remote support, and field maintenance. The company recently rebranded from GreenBig to b:bot as it scaled to over 1,200 installed units across France.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- b:bot bottle (indoor RVM) Indoor-optimized reverse vending machine for retail environments; accepts up to 3,500 PET bottles in a 1.54 sqm footprint at 30 bottles/min, with integrated colour sorting and a 32-inch interactive screen. Sold or rented to retailers across France.
- b:bot + can Multi-stream reverse vending machine handling both PET bottles (3,500 capacity) and aluminium cans (1,200 capacity) in a 1.6 sqm footprint, with an optional glass reuse module. Designed for retailers needing combined material streams.
- b:bot XXL
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% reduction in overall collection expenses vs traditional compaction systems
- +11 more outcomes
Companies that use GreenBig
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GreenBig technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability5 records
Feature6 records
GreenBig partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CarrefourcoreMajor French hypermarket chain (Carrefour France). Key strategic partner with multiple stores deploying b:bot machines. Marion Dorval serves as b:bot's Director of Client Relations for Carrefour.
- E.LeclerccoreMajor French supermarket chain. Multiple E.Leclerc centres deployed b:bot, with one exceeding 1 million bottles collected by March 2022. Positive testimonials from Leclerc directors on ease of use and ROI.
- Système U (Super U)coreFrench cooperative supermarket group. Multiple Super U stores equipped with b:bot. Testimonials highlight b:bot as Top 3 customer appreciation item in 20 years of retail experience.
- ITM (Intermarché)coreFrench supermarket group (Les Mousquetaires). Partner retailer with b:bot machines deployed in stores.
- Europe's leading recycling partnerscorePartnership with leading European recyclers for bottle-to-bottle loop. Recycled material sold to recyclers with price indexed on ICIS Recycled PET Europe. Provides access to European network of recycling partners for new market launches.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GreenBig competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- TOMRA Systems ASA: Global leader in reverse vending machines and collection solutions for DRS, with a much larger installed base and balance sheet than b:bot. Direct overlap in reverse vending technology for bottle and can collection, but TOMRA operates across many geographies and adjacent waste-sorting categories.
- RVM Systems / Sielaff / Anker Andersen (Diebold Nixdorf RVM portfolio): Providers of reverse vending and automated retail equipment that compete with b:bot's hardware footprint. Larger parent (Diebold Nixdorf) with broader ATM and retail automation portfolio; comparable in RVM mechanics and DRS deployment contracts.
- Sidel (Tetra Pak group): Global supplier of beverage packaging equipment and PET solutions, including RVMs and bottle-to-bottle recycling offerings. Overlaps with b:bot in the PET recycling ecosystem and serves the same beverage brand owners, though Sidel is broader in bottling equipment.
- Veolia Environmental Services: Major waste management and recycling operator in France and globally. Comparable as a downstream recycler and DRS stakeholder partner for b:bot; competes indirectly for the role of integrated DRS operator.
- Wincor Nixdorf / Diebold Nixdorf RVM Solutions: Long-established RVM provider with deep retailer relationships across Europe, including France. Competes with b:bot in retail-deployed RVMs, though b:bot's shredding-based architecture and retail media screen are differentiating additions.
Direct peers
- Envipco Holding NV: Pure-play RVM manufacturer for beverage containers, competing head-to-head with b:bot in European DRS rollouts. Comparable product offering (bottle/can RVMs), similar deposit return system focus, and competing for the same retailer and DMO customers.
Others
- Suez Recycling and Recovery: Environmental services company listed as a b:bot ecosystem partner. Comparable in PET recycling and DRS logistics; competes for downstream offtake and integrated collection contracts in France and Europe.
- Polymaker / Plastic Recycling equipment vendors (e.g., Erema, Starlinger): Suppliers of plastic recycling extrusion and processing equipment, including PET flake processing. Comparable as adjacent technology providers in the PET recycling value chain that b:bot feeds into.
Emerging players
- Carbios: French biotech developing enzymatic PET recycling technology for bottle-to-bottle loops. Overlaps with b:bot's value proposition of high-quality recycled PET feedstock, though Carbios operates upstream in chemical recycling rather than collection.
Regional players
- Re-turn (Ireland) / Re-turn Deposit Return Scheme operators: Operators of national DRS schemes in European markets. Comparable as institutional DRS counterparties and potential customers for b:bot's RVM technology, though not direct RVM manufacturers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GreenBig social profiles
Digital presenceGreenBig compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
GreenBig financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GreenBig leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
GreenBig funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GreenBig M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GreenBig
What does GreenBig do?
GreenBig, operating under the b:bot brand, designs, manufactures, and deploys high-density reverse vending machines (RVMs) that collect, shred, and colour-sort PET bottles (and cans) at the point of return. The machines reduce collected container volume by 7x versus traditional compaction, and the resulting PET flakes are sold to European recyclers for bottle-to-bottle recycling. Offerings span hardware (b:bot, b:bot + can, b:bot XXL), embedded AI for predictive maintenance and anti-fraud, and the b:datas reporting and traceability platform.
Is GreenBig a public or private company?
GreenBig is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was GreenBig founded?
GreenBig was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GreenBig based?
GreenBig is headquartered in Puteaux, France, in the Europe region.
How does GreenBig make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. RVM hardware sales and rental is the primary driver. The others are consumer rewards system, retail media/advertising and material valorization.
Who are GreenBig's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are TOMRA Systems ASA, RVM Systems / Sielaff / Anker Andersen (Diebold Nixdorf RVM portfolio), Sidel (Tetra Pak group), Veolia Environmental Services and Wincor Nixdorf / Diebold Nixdorf RVM Solutions. Envipco Holding NV is listed as a direct peer. Others are Suez Recycling and Recovery and Polymaker / Plastic Recycling equipment vendors (e.g., Erema, Starlinger). Carbios is listed as an emerging player. Re-turn (Ireland) / Re-turn Deposit Return Scheme operators is listed as a regional player.
Does GreenBig have an API?
No public API is recorded for GreenBig.
What industry is GreenBig in?
GreenBig's product category is Reverse Vending Machines and PET Recycling Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIANAE, Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops), with a secondary code of EUAIAKAM, Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion). Its NAICS code is 56292 and its SIC code is 4953.