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Company: Smarter Sorting, Austin, TX
Company Description: Smarter Sorting helps retailers and suppliers know more about regulated consumer products to make, market and move them better. We are the first to use computational mathematics to give instant, accurate answers to complex questions, using billions of data points on millions of products. We deliver results which improve sustainability and make good business sense.
Nomination Category: Achievement Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Achievement in Product Innovation
 Nomination Title: Smarter Pickup: US Ecology and Smarter Sorting provide a data driven solution to retail hazardous waste
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated organization's customer satisfaction achievements since the beginning of 2020, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video:
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization's history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 163 words used.
Retailers and brands must follow all safety, health, transportation, disposal and sustainability regulations across the supply chain to remain compliant to minimize fines, improve employee safety and reduce environmental impact. The data they have historically used to achieve this has been sorely lacking–absent, incomplete, or worse, incorrect.
Smarter Sorting has amassed a dataset to help companies make better choices on how to make, market and move regulated consumer products. Acting on our insights, retailers reduce shipping costs, minimize disposal fees and increase donation credits. Furthermore, retailers can increase both the number of products they carry and the sales rate. They will know how best to use their freight resources, what is eligible to ship directly to customers from a store or distribution center, or be drop-shipped by a third-party supplier.
Founded in 2015, our 5 year growth rate to 2021 is a staggering 2,270%. We now work with Costco, Wegmans and Albertsons Companies, together with the 1000s of brands which supply them.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2020 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 233 words used.
In 2020 we launched the Product Intelligence Platform. This is the Smarter Sorting cloud-based decision engine. It performs three functions.
- First, brands register their products by entering a few details to get the most accurate product classifications, without revealing any confidential information.
- Second, when paired with the Back of Store System (BOSS), retailers get fast answers on every important detail on the products they carry, including waste codes, transportation regulations and disposal classifications. The BOSS displays the best way to dispose of unsold or damaged products, or whether they could be donated to charity. Employees scan the product barcode, weigh the item, and follow easy on screen instructions.
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And third, both retailers and brands access a comprehensive suite of insights and reporting. Through Tableau dashboards and tracking of ESG metrics, we are the catalyst for smarter formulation and smarter packaging.
The quantifiable results? Well this is what we've achieved with our partners Costco and Wegmans to early 2022. (Later this year, we will make an even bigger impact as we roll out our system to 2,000+ Albertsons Companies stores and more Costco stores.)
- 22,885 tons of waste diverted from the landfill
- 123,982 pounds of products salvaged for reuse
- 2,077 pounds of hazardous waste safely treated
- 14,626 metric tons of avoided greenhouse gas emissions
- 19,130 pounds of products recycled
- 15,990,301 meals donated to those in need
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 76 words used.
Our Back of Store System (BOSS) displays the best way to dispose of unsold or damaged products, or whether they could be donated to charity. Retail employees scan the product barcode, weigh the item, and follow easy on screen instructions to where it should be placed--incineration, landfill, recycling, donation, etc. Everything is completely trackable and measured in real time. No other system on the market is able to accurately classifiy, measure and track in real time.
- Optional: Reference here any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and explain how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 100 words used.
Some retailers who have our Back of Store System (BOSS) also partner with US Ecology. The partnership provides a data driven solution to retail hazardous waste. We call it Smarter Pickup.
Our Back of Store System (BOSS) syncs with US Ecology so drivers know exactly when to schedule pick-ups, what waste to pick up and how much to expect. This gives retailers and US Ecology technicians more visibility into their hazardous waste streams, reducing and streamlining pickups, and ensuring safety and compliance throughout the process.
Link to video explaining the partnership between Smarter Sorting and US Ecology: https://vimeo.com/697149527/d7c3622da1
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