There are vending machines for everything these days, be it pre-packed snacks, beverages, toys, or even homemade food. However, Algramo is the first vending machine specifically for cleaning products! And now, it’s coming to the United States!
Algramo: An Inspirational Startup
While Algramo might have started as a simple idea in Chile, it has grown into one of the most talked-about startups in the world. And now it’s coming to the U.S.! The idea is quite simple: people bring reusable containers and can refill their household cleaning supplies. Not only does this save low-income families hundreds over the years, but it also makes the whole process much more green. Algramo machines include everything from Clorox Splash-less Cleaning Bleach and Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner to Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap from Colgate-Palmolive Co. and hand sanitizer from EcoLogic Solutions.
José Manuel Moller founded Algramo years ago in Chile and has remained its CEO. Thankfully, Closed Loop Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm, decided to fund a U.S. expansion. In fact, coronavirus played a large part in the decision. Not only will it save families money, but there’s less person-to-person contact than at the stores. Now, the first few Algramo vending machines have opened in New York City! They are located at Essex Market in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Building 77 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and The Laundry in Brooklyn. However, the expansion does not end there…
In Your Location, Soon
“These pilots will be invaluable in proving the viability and superiority of refill models that eliminate the need for single-use plastic packaging and address social and economic barriers to more sustainable options,” said Moller.
“When you buy in small formats, you pay from 30% to 50% more for the product, depending on what the product is,” said Brian Bauer, who works on the circular economy and strategic alliances at Algramo. “And then in doing that, you also produce a lot of packaging waste.” As you have likely discovered, it’s quite hard to repurpose the bottles that many cleaning supplies come in. As such, these often just end up in the ocean or a landfill.
“Algramo is on the forefront of a new retail experience; their tech-enabled refill system optimizes the customer experience and meets the growing demand from customers for convenient, accessible and waste-free solutions. We are seeing a lot of market demand for this solution,” stated Bridget Croke, managing director at Closed Loop Partners and Algramo board member.
Depending on how the project goes in New York City, there will be more and more vending machines installed around the streets of the United States. Maybe soon, everyone will have that at their nearest grocery store!
Sources: GoodNewsNetwork, Vending Times