Secontrade: waste today, resource tomorrow

Circular economies require one industry’s waste to become another’s input. Recycled materials – also known as secondary raw materials – can be used in manufacturing, but their trade has always posed a challenge. Award-winning Secontrade is stepping in with a Europe-wide digital marketplace for metals, plastics, glass and more. 

Secontrade is a Viennese startup turning industrial leftovers into resources. By closing the gap between the demand and available supply of secondary raw materials, Brigitte Reich and her team are driving sustainable resource management across Europe. 

Their platform connects buyers and sellers, ensuring that materials which might otherwise be discarded are instead reused, which is good for the environment – and for the economy. 

CEO Brigitte Reich, a lawyer specialized in environmental and waste law, also has an extensive background in waste management. After working for various NGOs and law firms, she joined the Austrian waste management company UFH in 2005. At first, her job was to set up collection and recovery systems, with a focus on turning old refrigerators into useable materials. But it was clear that more was possible. 

“We expand the market for buyers and sellers, making the transaction and documentation as smooth as possible,” says Reich. What started as a digital marketplace for electronic waste including metals, plastics and glass has now expanded to include biogenic residues as well as wood and construction waste. 

However, establishing the new marketplace wasn’t always smooth sailing. 

“Early on, we noticed a fear of digitalization, particularly concerns about transparency,” said Reich. “It was surprising to see major companies handling crucial recycling communication via WhatsApp or verbally just a few years ago. But as Secontrade gained traction, it was naturally integrated into our partners’ workflows.”

The platform is designed for seamless transactions, collecting fees only when materials are sold, with no ongoing costs or subscriptions, which is especially appealing to small businesses. Reich and her team also leverage their networks to broker specific deals, matching companies with needed raw materials.

Since its launch, Secontrade has facilitated the trade of about 55,000 tonnes of secondary raw materials, many familiar from everyday products and indispensable to industry. 

By meeting market demands and regulatory requirements, the platform now significantly contributes to the European Green Deal’s vision for a circular economy.

Its approach has been well received, earning nominations for prestigious awards like the ÖGUT Environmental Prize 2023, and winning a pitch at the FM-Days, an industry event by FMA | IFMA Austria in 2022. It was at that particular event that Brigitte Reich and her team secured the audience vote with their vision, “Today’s waste is tomorrow’s resource.”

Since its launch, Secontrade has thrived in Vienna’s dynamic GreenTech startup ecosystem. “We’ve benefited greatly from interacting with other companies in the field,” says Reich. “These connections have led to joint projects, fostering an environment where small startups can thrive alongside large companies.”

Reich and her team received substantial support from the Vienna Business Agency in terms of positioning and networking, allowing Secontrade to participate in pitches and presentations across the city.

As Secontrade looks to the future, the team’s focus lies on expanding their reach and impact. The goal is clear: to make sustainable raw material management the norm.

“Sustainability is a driving force for us,” says Reich. By fostering a culture of reusing and recycling, the company not only supports environmental goals but also helps stabilise the raw materials market in Europe, contributing to a more resilient future.