Turning marine pollution into collective benefits with BlueInvest

Romanian start-up Recycllux is using artificial intelligence (AI) to help communities detect, collect and recycle marine plastic waste. With support from BlueInvest, the company raised €375,000 in 2025 and is now expanding its innovative cleanup model across the Mediterranean.

Recycllux was founded in 2021 by Sorina Uleia as a response to her personal frustration at plastic pollution affecting the sea waters of her childhood. With over two decades of experience in technology, innovation, and business development, Sorina brought together a diverse team with expertise in AI, climate science, and ocean solutions to develop what is now a scalable framework for marine plastic recovery, integrating technological advancements and empowering local communities.

Community-powered cleanup model

Using AI to analyse imagery from the EU's Copernicus satellite network, the platform detects areas with high concentrations of plastic waste in coastal waters. The information is then shared with local fishers and NGOs who are able to collect, sort and recycle the waste. Local communities are directly compensated for their efforts, and every step of the process - from detection to collection and waste handover - is recorded on a blockchain-secured platform, ensuring complete transparency and traceability.

In addition, corporate partners receive clear, verifiable impact reports in line with EU sustainability frameworks that show how they are meeting their environmental obligations while directly supporting the coastal communities engaged in the cleanups.

BlueInvest in action

The business benefited significantly from the BlueInvest Readiness Assistance Programme, which it joined in 2024. At that time, Recycllux had a working prototype but needed real-world testing, and guidance from a BlueInvest coach helped refine the firm's impact strategy and helped map out plans for future expansion.

"The BlueInvest coaching programme was a turning point, as it gave us the structure and clarity we needed to move forward," according to Sorina Uleia

After receiving BlueInvest support, Recycllux secured €375,000 in investment and grants, helping to turn the prototype into a fully operational, cloud-based platform. Real-world interventions in the Black Sea, made possible thanks to the funding, have helped to prove that the model works and the company is now expanding into the Mediterranean, establishing a new subsidiary in Malta and starting in pilot projects in France and Tunisia.

With growing interest from both customers and investors, Recycllux is looking to attract further funding to help expand its operations.

About BlueInvest

BlueInvest is the EU's innovation and investment platform for the blue economy, offering business coaching, fundraising support, and networking opportunities for ocean technology companies. Interested individuals can register with the BlueInvest Community to explore programme features and opportunities or contact [email protected] .

More information

Website: Recycllux

Social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/recycllux