At a Glance
Location: Colombia
Impact Areas: Circular Economy, Inclusive Employment
People Supported:
Suppliers, Informal Workers
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2024
Overview
Bogotá-based enterprise Amazóniko operates a collaborative recycling platform that links everyone involved in the recycling process – from individual consumers to waste collectors, industries, and brands – providing each participant in the chain with knowledge, tools, and incentives to actively prevent waste from ending up in landfills.
Amazóniko users learn how to properly sort and prepare materials such as plastics, paper, glass, and metal for recycling, and earn “Amazonikoins” or points that can be redeemed for benefits with partner brands based on the quality and quantity of their waste. Starting with just 30 users, in six years the platform has grown to support a user base of over 16,500 individuals to recycle 20 tons of reusable materials per month.
Through its Brand Sponsorship Program, Amazóniko works closely with commercial brands such as McDonald’s, Papa Johns, Herbalife, and Greenpeace to create customized waste collection plans. The program supports corporate partners to sponsor waste collection from their employees' and end consumers’ homes while tracking their carbon savings and gaining valuable insight into how their products are consumed, disposed of, and reused.
Colombia’s recycling community employs 35,000 workers who play a crucial role in the country’s waste reduction and recycling efforts. However, 84% of this workforce is made up of independent waste collectors who do not have access to formal contracts, legal job protection, and essential healthcare and social security services.
The Amazóniko platform ensures stable and improved income to the waste collectors it collaborates with while providing them social security benefits and financial support. Amazóniko creates efficient collection routes for collectors and pays them fair prices for materials collected, subsidizing routes that aren't profitable yet. The platform currently supports the livelihoods of close to 50 waste collectors and their families.
Results & Impact
2,500
tons of waste recycled
30–130%
higher income for waste collectors
4,000
waste collectors expected to be supported by 2023
““Drawing on its experience supporting circular economy businesses, NESsT is working closely with Amazóniko to develop a roadmap. Together, we are identifying areas for improvement, proposing solutions, and prioritizing processes. This roadmap will serve as a compass, guiding us along the way, and providing us with the tools to build upon what we’ve already achieved and expand our reach and impact.””
NESsT Investment
NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship will support Amazóniko to amplify the reach of its platform, backing the enterprise’s expansion plans into other Colombian cities, such as Medellin, Cali, and Barranquilla, and new Latin American markets. By 2026, the brand aims to engage 300,000 individuals and recycle approximately 1,000 tons per month.
To better manage waste collection, Amazóniko will use NESsT’s investment to upgrade its platform to enhance user experience, expand server capacity, and implement features to boost recycler engagement, such as route management and learning tools. These digital enhancements will allow for more accurate tracking of social impact.
NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship will also leverage their knowledge and experience from supporting other circular economy companies in South America to support Amazóniko to identify and adopt strategies to reach more waste collectors, for example with new benefit packages. By the end of 2026, the enterprise aims to improve the livelihoods of over 250 recyclers and their families annually.