Glacier and AB InBev’s AI robotics solution for identifying and recovering recyclables from kerbside streams was a finalist in this year’s Sustainability Awards, nominated in the Commercialized Driving the Circular Economy category. AB InBev tells us more about the entry in this interview.
You’re a finalist in the Sustainability Awards 2025. Congratulations! To start off, could you summarize your entry, in less than 50 words?
Glacier’s AI-enabled robots are capable of identifying and recovering over 90% of common recyclables from kerbside streams while providing real-time, item-level circularity data. Glacier is transforming recycling into a smarter, more efficient, and data-driven process that accelerates the transition to a circular economy.
Why do you think the judges were impressed with your entry? Tell us about what is innovative about your project and/or about its impact on packaging sustainability.
Judges likely valued how Glacier combines advanced AI technology with tangible environmental and economic impact. Traditional systems struggle with inefficiency and high contamination, but Glacier’s AI-powered robotics deliver both automation and real-time intelligence.
In partnership with AB InBev and Coca-Cola, under the 100+ Accelerator program, Glacier’s AI-enabled robotic system recovered nearly 600,000 bottles and cans destined for landfill in just one month - delivering a payback period of only 10 months for the partner recycling facility.
With Colgate-Palmolive, Glacier built the world’s first AI model to detect toothpaste tubes in recycling facilities, identifying over 57,000 tubes correctly recycled in one year and providing real-time data visibility to Colgate-Palmolive via live dashboards. This dual impact - advancing circularity while driving measurable business value - sets Glacier apart as a scalable model for the future of recycling.
Finally, can you tell us about the ongoing development of your project, e.g. how your innovation/initiative has been received by the industry, or what the next steps are in commercialization/product development?
Glacier’s collaborations with AB InBev, The Coca-Cola Company and Colgate-Palmolive, under the 100+ Accelerator have proven both its technical and commercial value. Colgate-Palmolive has already renewed its data contract with Glacier and expanded AI detection capabilities to multiple sites.
Glacier’s project with Coca-Cola and AB InBev further validated Glacier’s ability to provide recycling facilities with a payback period of under a year from improved recovery. Next steps for Glacier include scaling to more U.S. recycling facilities, expanding detection and recovery to brand-level recognition and more complex packaging formats, and deepening global partnerships. With growing recognition, including investment from Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund and accolades like Best Circular Economy Tech, Glacier is positioned to set new standards for data-driven recycling worldwide.
Next year’s Sustainability Awards will take place during the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht, Netherlands, 10-12th November 2026. You can find out more here.
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