SuperBin

Name

SuperBin

Legal name

수퍼빈 주식회사 (SuperBin Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://superbin.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI-Powered Recycling & Circular Economy Systems

NAICS

Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Robot Hardware, Actuators & Components (sensors, grippers, motors) (HDAAAIAL)

Keywords

• AI recycling robots
• Circular economy platform
• R-PET recycled materials
• Resource circulation logistics
• ESG waste management

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunchang

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Nephron Robot Sales and Operating Services (B2G/B2B): Sale of AI circular resource collection robots (Nephron series) to government agencies, public institutions, and enterprise clients. Includes ongoing operating services — field masters manage machines, collect resources, provide user guidance, and submit operational reports. Revenue recognized from device sales contracts and recurring service fees.
2. Recycling Store Operations Contracts (B2G): Entrusted operation of local government recycling stores. SuperBin manages the store, collects 19 types of recyclables, operates digital scale systems, and provides real-time transaction data to partner municipalities. Revenue model based on service contracts with local governments.
3. r-PET Recycled Material Sales (Refurium Brand): Sale of r-PET Flake and r-PET Pellet (Refurium brand) to food packaging, cosmetics, textile, and automotive electronics manufacturers. Revenue from bulk material sales to B2B customers. Products hold GRS certification, Korean MFDS recognition, and FDA/EFSA food-contact safety test clearance.
4. SuperBinMo In-Person Collection Services (B2B/B2G): On-site collection service for organizations (companies, NGOs, government bodies) with customized collection schedules and compensation. Revenue from service fees paid by corporate and institutional clients for collection and material processing.
5. SuperBinMo Partnership and SuperBin Rooky Programs: Corporate and institutional partnerships providing customized in-person collection services for organizations, and school-based Nephron programs for environmental education. Revenue from partnership contracts and program fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SuperBin operates an AI- and IoT-based circular resource management platform that uses proprietary computer-vision/deep-learning robots (the Nephron series) to autonomously identify, sort, and collect PET bottles and aluminum cans from consumers in exchange for point rewards, then transports and processes the materials through its im_factory smart factories into food-contact-grade r-PET Flake and Pellet sold under the Repurium brand. The business spans Nephron robot sales and operating services to government/enterprise clients, entrusted recycling-store operations, SuperBinMo in-person collection services for organizations, and r-PET material sales to packaging, cosmetics, textile, and automotive manufacturers.

Product overview

SuperBin operates a comprehensive circular economy ecosystem centered on the AI-powered Nephron collection robots. The portfolio includes multiple Nephron models (Basic, Objet, Light, Barrier-Free) for automated recycling collection, SuperBinMo for in-person collection services, SuperBinRookie for school education, and the Repurium brand of premium r-PET recycled materials produced at their im_factory facilities. Supporting infrastructure includes field operations with field masters, transport vehicles (SuperCar, SuperPress), and the SuperBin app connecting all services. The system enables citizens to deposit recyclables for point rewards, with collected materials processed into high-quality recycled materials for industrial use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 네프론 (Nephron): AI 기반 순환자원 회수로봇. 혈액을 정화하는 신장 세포(네프론)에서 유래한 이름으로, 도시 내 순환자원을 수집하여 세상을 깨끗하게 만드는 역할을 상징.
• 수퍼빈모아
• 수퍼카
• 수퍼프레스
• 리퓨리움 (Repurium)
• 아이엠팩토리 (iM Factory)
• 순환자원 창고
• 수퍼빈루키
• 필드마스터
• 수퍼큐브
• 쓰레기 시리즈

Products and services

• Nephron AI Collection Robot (네프론) AI-powered unmanned collection robot using proprietary NEURO-GENIE computer vision and deep learning to autonomously identify, sort, and collect PET bottles and aluminum cans. Sells to government and enterprise clients and operates in public spaces where citizens earn point rewards for deposits.
• SuperBinMo In-Person Collection Service (수퍼빈모아) Door-to-door and on-site bulk collection service for both individuals (Basic) and organizations (Partnership), where SuperBin field masters visit the location, collect large quantities of recyclables, and compensate the depositor based on weight. Designed for corporate ESG programs, events, schools, and institutions.
• Recycling Store Operation Service (자원순환가게 위탁운영) Entrusted operation of local-government recycling stores where SuperBin manages 19 types of recyclables, operates digital scale systems, and provides real-time transaction data to partner municipalities under service contracts. Operates 60+ stores nationwide as of December 2024.
• im_factory Materialization Production Service (아이엠팩토리 소재화 공장) Smart factory operation service using AI sorting, digital automation, and EREMA Plastic Recycling System to convert AI-selected transparent PET bottles into r-PET Flake and Pellet. Hwaseong facility has annual capacity of 10,000 tons; Sunchang facility has annual capacity of 20,000 tons. Doubles as Korea's first waste-culture complex with public tours.
• Repurium Premium r-PET Recycled Material (리퓨리움) Premium recycled PET product line including Repurium Flake and Repurium Pellet, sold in bulk to food packaging, cosmetics, textile, and automotive electronics manufacturers. Manufactured from AI-selected transparent PET bottles only; holds GRS, MFDS, FDA, and EFSA food-contact certifications.
• SuperBinRookie In-School Environmental Education Program (수퍼빈루키) School-based environmental education program for elementary, middle, and high school students that installs Nephron machines on campus, runs mobile recycling classrooms, and combines recycling rewards with environmental+AI education and gamified participation.
• Cultural Events Program (기획 문화 행사) Cultural engagement offerings including the 'Trash Series' content (Trash Museum, Trash Mart, Trash Cafe), recurring plogging ('쓰레기를 줍는 날리기') campaigns, and SuperCube mobile experience booths at festivals and high-foot-traffic locations for civic environmental participation.
• im_factory Factory Tour Program (소재화 공장 견학) Guided public tour program at im_factory Hwaseong where visitors observe the PET recycling process, explore cultural exhibition spaces, and participate in upcycling experiences.
• Field Operations Infrastructure Service (필드 운영 인프라) End-to-end resource collection, transport, and management service for Nephron operations across the country, staffed by SuperBin field masters and supported by SuperCar transport vehicles, SuperPress high-pressure compression vehicles, and dedicated circular resource warehouses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.27 billion+ PET bottles and 255.8 million+ cans collected cumulatively; 100 billion KRW+ returned to citizens through point exchange
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SK Geo CentriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK Geo Centric invested in SuperBin's Series B rounds (2021: 5.9B KRW; 2020: co-invested in 14.1B KRW round). In 2022, signed MOU with Hwaseong City and SK Geo Centric for Green New Deal circular economy infrastructure pilot. SK Geo Centric is a key strategic investor and partner in SuperBin's circular economy ecosystem.
• Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI, 한국환경산업기술원)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in carbon neutrality business support program. MOU for expanding high-quality plastic recycled material production. Also partner in carbon neutrality points program.
• Korea Environment Corporation (한국환경공단)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for expanding high-quality plastic recycled material production. Key government partner for environmental initiatives.
• Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (건강보험심사평가원)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESG practice MOU signed June 2026. HIRA provides recycling education and management; SuperBin handles collection and regenerated material production. Accumulated points donated to vulnerable community groups.
• Seongnam City Sports Federation (성남시체육회)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports sector resource circulation MOU signed March 2026. Seongnam provides administrative support; SuperBin operates collection and materialization. Revenue donated to sports scholarship fund.
• Gyeongbuk Cultural Tourism Corporation (경북문화관광공사)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-way MOU with SuperBin and Woosansan for golf course circular economy model. Nephron installed at Bomieum Golf Club; collected PET bottles upcycled into golf club headcovers.
• Woosansan (우시산)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpcycling social enterprise collaborating on golf club headcover production from collected PET bottles. Part of three-way MOU with Gyeongbuk Cultural Tourism Corporation.
• Snow Peak Korea (스노우피크코리아)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for spreading resource circulation culture at camping sites (2025).
• Samyang Packaging (삼양패키징)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for food container recycled material use and expansion (2024).
• SK Eco Engineering (SK에코엔지니어링)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for PET bottle resource circulation within construction sites (2023).
• Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH, 한국토지주택공사)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for PET bottle resource circulation (2024). LH Jeonbuk Headquarters has Nephron installed.
• Gangnam-gu Office (강남구청)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for robot testbed public offering project demonstration (2024).
• Global Civil Citizens Union (지구시민연합)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement for transparent PET selection and separation project supplying food/beverage bottle raw materials (2023).
• Korea Textile Development Institute (한국섬유개발研究院)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for green textile circular economy activation (2024).
• EREMAcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of high-performance plastic recycling system equipment. EREMA systems at im_factory Sunchang are certified by EFSA and FDA and trusted by global F&B companies.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TOMRA: Norwegian global leader in reverse vending machines (RVMs) for beverage container collection and AI-based sorting. Most directly comparable to SuperBin's Nephron robot business, with similar B2G/government-channel go-to-market and a much larger international footprint.
• AMP Robotics: US-based AI and robotics company applying computer vision and robotic sorting to material recovery facilities (MRFs). Comparable on the AI sorting/robotics stack for recyclables, though focused on facility-scale rather than citizen-facing collection.
• Envipco: US/Netherlands-based reverse vending and recycling technology provider competing with TOMRA in deposit-return schemes. Direct overlap with SuperBin's B2G RVM/Nephron business model and government-channel sales motion.

Emerging players

• Zenrobotics: Finland-based pioneer in AI-powered robotic waste sorting for hazardous and mixed waste streams. Comparable technology overlap (computer vision + robotics for recycling) but serves industrial MRFs rather than consumer deposit points.
• Greyparrot: UK-based AI waste analytics platform using computer vision to monitor and sort recyclables in facilities. Comparable AI-vision stack to NEURO-GENIE and a likely future competitor for SuperBin's im_factory automation layer.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia: Global waste management and circular-economy services giant with recycling, r-PET, and ESG-program businesses. Competes for the same municipal and corporate circular-economy wallet at far greater scale and geographic reach.
• Suez: Global environmental services and resource recovery company with significant recycled-plastics operations. Comparable at the municipal services and r-PET feedstock layers; a potential acquirer or large competitor in any international expansion.
• Waste Management, Inc. Largest US waste and recycling services company with growing investments in recycling automation and r-PET. Overlaps with SuperBin's downstream r-PET sales and corporate ESG/CSR programs; a potential partner or competitive threat internationally.

Others

• Indorama Ventures: Thailand-based global PET and r-PET producer with significant recycled-PET capacity. Directly comparable as a buyer/seller of food-grade r-PET and a likely customer, partner, or competitor for Refurium at scale.
• CarbonLite: US-based food-grade r-PET manufacturer producing recycled pellets from used bottles. Closest analog to the Refurium brand in terms of food-contact certification, plant operations, and B2B resin sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors15 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SuperBin