SuperBin Nephron AI Recycling Collection Robot

SuperBin Inc. is a South Korean climate tech company founded in 2015 that acquired deep learning technology from KAIST. It aims to turn recyclables into a tradeable resource by redesigning how they are sorted, collected and processed, rewarding citizens for returning clean materials.

Its Nephron robots use camera sensing and deep learning to recognise, sort and collect PET bottles and cans, paying users points they can cash out. Variants include a barrier-free model, a bulk model and a multi-item collection cube for PET, cans and paper cartons. Collected PET goes to SuperBin's own im_factory plant, which produces r-PET flakes for new beverage bottles. Customers are local governments, public agencies, campuses and corporates such as airports and hotels.

• AI recognition: camera sensing and deep learning identify and sort PET bottles and cans on insertion.
• Reward app: users earn points that can be exchanged for cash through the SuperBin app.
• Nephron Barrier-Free: accessible model designed for people with disabilities and older users.
• Nephron Bulk and multi-item cube: high-volume intake and collection of PET, cans and paper cartons.
• Station-type recycling centre: combines collection robots, bulk intake and education kiosks.
• im_factory processing: own plant producing GRS-certified r-PET flakes for bottle-to-bottle use.

Vietnamese city authorities can install AI collection points in residential areas and parks to raise PET and can recovery. Beverage companies can use the robots in EPR or deposit pilots with consumer rewards. Airports, malls and hotel chains can offer recycling stations that engage guests.

Automatic recognition and sorting at the point of return yields clean, separated PET and cans suitable for high-grade recycling. Point rewards drive citizen participation; the company reports about 1.38 billion PET bottles and 272 million cans collected by July 2026. Public buyers in Korea can procure Nephron through the innovative product scheme. Collected material feeds a bottle-to-bottle loop via SuperBin's own plant.

Reverse vending and deposit-style collection are expanding in Asia as governments push separate collection of clean PET for bottle-to-bottle recycling. Vietnam's packaging EPR rules and smart city programmes create room for automated collection points in urban areas, campuses and public facilities.

Founded in 2015 in South Korea. About 1,900 Nephron units were installed nationwide as of September 2026. Funding includes Series B rounds in 2020 and 2021 and an 18 billion won Series B bridge in 2022. Its r-PET flakes hold GRS certification and passed US FDA and EU EFSA food-contact tests. In 2024 it ran a feasibility study for plastic recycling infrastructure in Metro Manila, Philippines.