France’s b:bot looking to set up shop in Tunisia, UAE: French plastic recycling robotics company b:bot plans to expand to Tunisia and the UAE after raising EUR 20 mn to boost its robot network and enter new markets, Tech EU reported earlier this week.

Ironing out the details: The French startup raised EUR 20 mn from Paris-based investor and asset manager Eiffel Investment Group and the group’s long-committing shareholder Crédit Agricole Normandie-Seine Participations. The funds will be directed to doubling the size of the startup’s robot workforce by the end of 2023, international expansion, and begin recycling cans.

About the company: Founded in 2021, b:bot is a machine and digital ecosystem that collects PET plastic bottles and shreds them into plastic flakes, according to EU data. B:bot’s machines, which take up less than 1 m2 of space, have a storage capacity of 3k bottles. Consumers get points or cents for each bottle inserted into the robot, and can exchange their points for funds that can be used at supermarkets or donated to charities. It currently has over 500 robots and has collected 130 mn bottles to date, according to Tech EU.

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